Redhawk Lake
Redhawk Lake is an earth dam located in Calaveras County, California, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Redhawk Lake
Redhawk Lake is a dam in Calaveras, California. The dam is owned by Calaveras Public Utility District (public utility). It impounds the Nfk Calaveras Riv.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 780 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,760 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1882, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/26/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Calaveras |
| River/Stream | Nfk Calaveras Riv |
| Coordinates | 38.32560, -120.49440 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 780 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,760 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,760 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Calaveras Public Utility District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/26/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00306 |
| Federal ID | CA00306 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |