REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 4, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Release California Division of Safety of Dams Files for Papoose Dam
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of Board Governed County Service Area 70 D-1, authorize the Director of Public Works or Assistant Director to sign and submit a File Request Form to the California Division of Safety of Dams, to authorize the release of historical files for the Papoose Dam to the Arrowhead Lake Association and its consultants.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as this item is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Arrowhead Lake Association (ALA) has requested access to historical records related to Papoose Dam, also known as the “Lake Arrowhead New Dam”, that is maintained by the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). The requested materials include technical memoranda, engineering reports, design information, and other documentation needed to support the ALA’s consultant in preparing an updated dam breach analysis and inundation map. The updated analysis is necessary to support ongoing dam safety evaluations, emergency planning, and compliance with current regulatory requirements.
The Department of Public Works (Department) recognizes that some of the technical information contained in the DSOD files may be sensitive because it includes engineering and infrastructure information related to a public dam. However, the records are being requested by the ALA, the entity responsible for operating and maintaining the dam, and its retained engineering consultant for legitimate engineering and regulatory purposes. The Department has no objection to the release of these records for this purpose.
To release these records, the DSOD requires the dam owner, identified as San Bernardino County through the Department, to complete and sign the DSOD File Request Form.
Approval of this item will authorize the Department to sign and submit the DSOD File Request Form, enabling the ALA’s and its consultant to obtain the historical dam records necessary to complete the updated technical analysis and satisfy regulatory requirements.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Custis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 22, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on July 16, 2026.