Buena Vista
Buena Vista is an earth dam located in Kern County, California, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Buena Vista
Buena Vista is a dam in Kern, California. The dam is owned by Kern County Parks And Recreation (local government). It impounds the Kern River near Lamont.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 24,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 980 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 01/16/2025.
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 | Kern |
| Nearest City | Lamont |
| River/Stream | Kern River |
| Coordinates | 35.22340, -119.27000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 24,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 980 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Kern County Parks and Recreation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00721 |
| Federal ID | CA00721 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |