Emerson
Emerson is an earth dam located in Lassen County, California. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Emerson
Emerson is a dam in Lassen, California. The dam is owned by Jay Dow And Susan Bonomini (private). It impounds the Tr Gold Run Crk near Johnstonville.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 418 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/25/2025.
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 | Lassen |
| Nearest City | Johnstonville |
| River/Stream | Tr Gold Run Crk |
| Coordinates | 40.36820, -120.64150 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,700 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 418 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 418 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Jay Dow and Susan Bonomini |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/25/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00526 |
| Federal ID | CA00526 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |