Lake Los Carneros
Lake Los Carneros is an earth dam located in Santa Barbara County, California, built in 1932. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Los Carneros
The primary purpose of Lake Los Carneros 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 City Of Goleta (local government). It impounds the La Patera Depress near Goleto.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 1,921 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 168 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1932, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 04/29/2025.
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 | Santa Barbara |
| Nearest City | Goleto |
| River/Stream | La Patera Depress |
| Coordinates | 34.44040, -119.85000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,921 ft |
| Year Completed | 1932 (94 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 168 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 168 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Goleta |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00728 |
| Federal ID | CA00728 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |