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High Risk Dams in California

California has 47 high hazard dams with a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory. These are dams where failure would probably cause loss of human life and where recognized safety deficiencies have been identified.

Of the 807 high hazard dams in California, 47 (5%) have concerning condition ratings — 44 rated poor and 3 rated unsatisfactory.

Condition scale, best to worst
  1. Satisfactory No existing or potential safety deficiencies recognized; acceptable performance expected under all loading conditions.
  2. Fair No deficiencies under normal operating conditions; a rare flood or earthquake could create one.
  3. Poor A safety deficiency is recognized under normal operating conditions; remedial action is necessary.
  4. Unsatisfactory Worst rating. The dam is considered unsafe; a deficiency requires immediate or emergency remedial action.

"Not rated" means no assessment is on file in the National Inventory of Dams.

DamCountyHeight (ft)ConditionLast inspectedPurposeYear
CastaicLos Angeles340Poor10/07/20251 yr agoWater Supply1973
NacimientoSan Luis Obispo255Poor08/25/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1956
AndersonSanta Clara240Unsatisfactory08/27/20251 yr agoWater Supply1950
El CapitanSan Diego237Poor05/07/20251 yr agoWater Supply1934
Santa FeliciaVentura213Poor08/06/20251 yr agoWater Supply1955
MorenaSan Diego181Poor10/07/20251 yr agoWater Supply1912
Vermilion ValleyFresno165Poor09/09/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1954
MatilijaVentura163Poor11/26/20241 yr agoOther1949
BarrettSan Diego161Poor10/07/20251 yr agoWater Supply1922
SavageSan Diego149Poor10/08/20251 yr agoWater Supply1919
Lake FordyceNevada145Poor09/10/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1873
GuadalupeSanta Clara142Poor11/19/2025this yearWater Supply1935
CoyoteSanta Clara140Poor04/15/20251 yr agoWater Supply1936
ReliefTuolumne140Poor09/17/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1909
Santiago CreekOrange136Poor05/06/20251 yr agoWater Supply1933
TabeaudAmador136Poor08/21/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1901
Lake HodgesSan Diego131Unsatisfactory05/08/20251 yr agoWater Supply1918
Lake Mission ViejoOrange123Poor04/16/20251 yr agoWater Supply1976
AlmadenSanta Clara110Poor11/19/2025this yearOther1936
Lake CurryNapa107Poor09/30/20251 yr agoOther1926
PilarcitosSan Mateo103Poor04/29/20251 yr agoWater Supply1866
MagaliaButte103Poor01/16/20251 yr agoWater Supply1918
North ForkSanta Clara100Poor08/12/20251 yr agoWater Supply1939
MisselbeckShasta96Poor10/07/20242 yrs agoOther1920
CaleroSanta Clara90Poor11/19/2025this yearWater Supply1935
Dove CanyonOrange88Poor02/11/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1989
Grant LakeMono87Poor10/23/20241 yr agoWater Supply1940
Swanzy LakeSolano86Poor10/01/20251 yr agoWater Supply1931
Gem LakeMono80Poor08/20/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1917
Rubio Debris BasinLos Angeles64Poor11/19/2025this yearDebris Control1944
Bear GulchSan Mateo61Poor02/11/20251 yr agoWater Supply1896
Rush MeadowsMono50Poor08/20/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1925
Salt Springs ValleyCalaveras47Poor06/16/20251 yr agoOther1882
Lee LakeRiverside47Poor11/07/2025this yearWater Supply1893
St. Helena LerNapa44Poor06/11/20251 yr agoWater Supply1878
Mendocino MiddleMendocino39Poor10/31/20241 yr agoOther1908
Lake HelenSonoma39Poor04/30/20251 yr agoWater Supply1966
TinemahaInyo32Poor10/24/20241 yr agoOther1928
Silver LakeAmador32Poor08/23/20233 yrs agoHydroelectric1876
Rancho RubiniColusa31Poor03/25/20251 yr agoWater Supply1955
Agnew LakeMono30Poor08/20/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1916
Round ValleyButte29Unsatisfactory08/07/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1877
Scotia Log PondHumboldt24Poor05/07/20251 yr agoWater Supply1910
EngineerMonterey20Poor05/09/20233 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1964
GilesSolano18Poor12/01/2025this yearWater Supply1965
Treatment PondsShasta16Poor12/14/20232 yrs agoWater Supply1975
Peju Reservoir No. 2Napa14Poor09/22/20251 yr agoWater Supply

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