Mendocino Middle
Mendocino Middle is a gravity dam located in Mendocino County, California, built in 1908. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mendocino Middle
Mendocino Middle is a dam in Mendocino, California. The dam is owned by County Of Mendocino (local government). It impounds the Middle Creek near Talmage.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 119 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 27 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1908, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2024.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Mendocino |
| Nearest City | Talmage |
| River/Stream | Middle Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.13110, -123.13530 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 119 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | County of Mendocino |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00001 |
| Federal ID | CA00001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |