Salt Springs Valley
Salt Springs Valley is an earth dam located in Calaveras County, California, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Salt Springs Valley
Salt Springs Valley is a dam in Calaveras, California. The dam is owned by Rock Creek Water District (public utility). It impounds the Rock Creek near Milton.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 2,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 920 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20 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 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 06/16/2025.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 |
| Nearest City | Milton |
| River/Stream | Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.03050, -120.76430 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 920 acres |
| Drainage Area | 20 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Rock Creek Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00620 |
| Federal ID | CA00620 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |