Dams in Merced County, California

11Total Dams
6High Hazard
2Significant

Dam Safety in Merced County, California

Merced County has 11 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 6 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 2 carry a significant hazard classification.

The average dam in Merced County is 88 years old. The most common purpose is flood risk reduction. The tallest dam is Los Banos Creek Detention Dam at 167 ft.

DamHazardConditionHeight (ft)PurposeYear
Los Banos Creek Detention DamHighNot Available167Flood Risk Reduction1965
Burns DamHighNot Available65Flood Risk Reduction1950
Lake YosemiteHighSatisfactory53Water Supply1888
Merced FallsHighFair43Hydroelectric1901
CastleHighSatisfactory40Flood Risk Reduction1991
B.f. Sisk DikeHighNot Available30Hydroelectric1967
KelseySignificantSatisfactory28Water Supply1929
Mustang CreekSignificantSatisfactory18Flood Risk Reduction1975
Crocker DiversionLowSatisfactory22Other1910
O'neill Forebay DikeLowNot Available20Hydroelectric1967
Sierra VistaLowSatisfactory12Other1872