Dams in Kern County, California

25Total Dams
11High Hazard
5Significant

Dam Safety in Kern County, California

Kern County has 25 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 11 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 5 carry a significant hazard classification.

The average dam in Kern County is 51 years old. The most common purpose is water supply. The tallest dam is Isabella Dam at 185 ft.

DamHazardConditionHeight (ft)PurposeYear
Isabella DamHighNot Available185Flood Risk Reduction1953
AntelopeHighSatisfactory57Flood Risk Reduction1987
J.c. JacobsenHighSatisfactory56Water Supply1973
BlackburnHighSatisfactory48Flood Risk Reduction1991
Guzman ReservoirHighSatisfactory47Water Supply
Bap Pond 8HighSatisfactory29Water Supply1975
Kern River County ParkHighSatisfactory24Water Supply1959
Irrigation ReservoirHighSatisfactory22Water Supply1980
Fresh Water PondHighNot Available18Water Supply
Fresh Water ImpoundmentHighNot Available15Other
Buena VistaHighSatisfactory14Other1973
Big Four RanchSignificantSatisfactory38Water Supply1970
Berrenda MesaSignificantSatisfactory22Water Supply1967
Rio Bravo CanalSignificantSatisfactory16Hydroelectric1988
Kern River No. 1 ForebaySignificantSatisfactory10
Rio Bravo CanalSignificantNot Available1Hydroelectric1988
Tejon Storage 2LowSatisfactory67Water Supply1956
Bap Pond 5LowSatisfactory46Water Supply2008
Boron Tails Pond 6LowSatisfactory39Water Supply1980
Bap Ponds 1, 2, 3, 4LowSatisfactory37Water Supply2003
Bap Pond 6LowSatisfactory32Water Supply2012
Tejon Storage 1LowSatisfactory32Water Supply1946
Kern DiversionLowSatisfactory29Hydroelectric1906
Bap Pond 7LowSatisfactory20Water Supply
Borax Solar Evaporation PondsLowSatisfactory18Water Supply1984