Peters Canyon
Peters Canyon is an earth dam located in Orange County, California, built in 1932. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Peters Canyon
Peters Canyon is a dam in Orange, California. The dam is owned by County Of Orange (local government). It impounds the Peters Canyon near Tustin.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,090 acre-feet. 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 09/09/2025.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Tustin |
| River/Stream | Peters Canyon |
| Coordinates | 33.77970, -117.76280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1932 (94 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | County of Orange |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00746 |
| Federal ID | CA00746 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |