Lake Vera
Lake Vera is a buttress dam located in Nevada County, California, built in 1926. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Vera
The primary purpose of Lake Vera is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Lake Vera Mutual Water Company (private). It impounds the Rock Creek.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 275 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 136 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1926, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 04/16/2025.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Nevada |
| River/Stream | Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.30240, -121.02800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 275 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 136 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 136 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Lake Vera Mutual Water Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00538 |
| Federal ID | CA00538 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |