San Antonio Dam (San Bernardino County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Antonio Dam |
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|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°09′27″N 117°40′41″W / 34.15750°N 117.67806°W |
| Purpose | Flood and debris control |
| Construction began | 1952 |
| Opening date | 1956 |
| Owner(s) |  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment |
| Impounds | San Antonio Creek |
| Height | 160 ft (49 m) |
| Length | 3,850 ft (1,170 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 11,880 acre⋅ft (14,650,000 m3) |
| Catchment area | 27 sq mi (70 km2) |
The San Antonio Dam is a large wall built across the San Antonio Creek. It is located in San Bernardino County, California. This important structure helps control floods and catches debris. It is about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city of Ontario.
Contents
What is the San Antonio Dam?
The San Antonio Dam is a special type of dam called an embankment dam. This means it is built mostly from earth and rock. Its main job is to protect people and property from floods. It also stops things like rocks and tree branches from flowing downstream during heavy rains.
Why Was It Built?
The dam was planned as part of a big project to control floods. This project covered the entire Santa Ana River system. The idea for the dam came from laws passed in 1936 and 1938. Building the dam started in April 1952. It was finished in May 1956. The dam helps manage water from a large area of 27 square miles (70 km2) in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Who Built and Manages the Dam?
The San Antonio Dam was built by the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is a part of the U.S. military that builds and manages many public works projects. They are still in charge of the dam today.
How Big is the Dam?
The dam is very large! It stretches about 3,850 feet (1,170 m) long. It stands 160 feet (49 m) tall from its base. From the riverbed, it is 130 feet (40 m) high. The main part of the dam is made from a huge amount of material. This is about 6,050,000 cubic yards (4,630,000 m3) of earth and rock.
What About the Water?
Behind the dam is a reservoir, which is like a big bowl for water. Most of the time, this reservoir is dry. But when there are very heavy rainstorms, it can fill up. It can hold up to 11,880 acre-feet (14,650,000 m3) of water. This helps prevent floods downstream.
How Water is Released
The dam has a special concrete overflow area called a spillway. This spillway is on the west side of the dam. It makes sure that if the reservoir gets too full, water can safely flow out. This prevents the dam from overflowing. The water then goes into the San Antonio and Chino Creek channels. These channels were lined with concrete between 1956 and 1960. This lining helps protect the channels during big water releases.
Keeping the Dam Safe
Since 2012, there has been a project to fix some issues with the dam. Sometimes, during very heavy rain, a little water would seep out at the bottom. This project is making sure the dam stays strong and safe for everyone. The dam is considered a very important structure for safety.
