Upper Gorge
Upper Gorge is a gravity dam located in Mono County, California, built in 1953. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Gorge
Upper Gorge is a dam in Mono, California. The dam is owned by City Of Los Angeles Department Of Water And Power (local government). It impounds the Owens River.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 37 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 26 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 457 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 10/10/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Mono |
| River/Stream | Owens River |
| Coordinates | 37.54590, -118.58980 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 37 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 457 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00095 |
| Federal ID | CA00095 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |