Los Banos Creek is an intermittent creek that begins in the Diablo Range in San Benito County and flows north then eastward into western Merced County where it is dammed at the Los Banos Detention Dam. The dam was built by Reclamation in 1966 to detain floodwater from Los Banos Creek in the Los Banos Creek Detention Reservoir in order to protect the San Luis Canal, the DMC, the City of Los Banos, and adjacent areas from damaging floods.
The reservoir, with a capacity of 34,000 acre-feet, is a joint-use facility owned by Reclamation and operated and maintained by the California Department of Water Resources. Water delivered is used for crop production as well as maintenance of wetlands, waterfowl habitat, and vegetation growth.
General
Project
Central Valley
Latitude
36.9900
Watercourse
Los Banos Creek
Reservoir
Los Banos
Original Construction
1964-1965
National ID Number
CA10167
Longitude
-120.0317
Dimensions
Crest Elevation
384.0 ft
Structural Height
167.0 ft
Hydraulic Height (Normal Operating Depth at Dam)
126.0 ft
Crest Length
1370.0 ft
Top of Active Conservation Pool (Elevation)
327.8 ft
Spillway Crest Elevation
353.5 ft
Top of Dead Storage Pool (Elevation)
296.0 ft
Streambed at Dam Axis
228.0 ft
Hydraulics & Hydrology
Outlet Works Capacity at Elevation
1255 cfs at 378.2 ft
Hydrometeorological Report (HMR)
HMR 58
Normal Water Surface Elevation
327.8 ft
Spillway Capacity at Elevation
8600 cfs at 378.2 ft
Auxiliary Spillway
No
Drainage Area
156.0 sq mi
Contact
Owner
Title: Area Office Manager Organization: South-Central California Area Office Address: 1243 "N" Street City: Fresno, CA 93721-1813 Phone: 559-262-0300
Operator
Organization: California Department of Water Resources Address: San Luis Field Division City: Gustine, CA 93522 Phone: 209-827-5100
More Information about the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
