Lee Lake
Lee Lake is an earth dam located in Riverside County, California, built in 1893. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lee Lake
The primary purpose of Lee Lake 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 Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (public utility). It impounds the Temescal Creek near Corona.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 70 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 56 square miles. Completed in 1893, 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 11/07/2025.
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 | Riverside |
| Nearest City | Corona |
| River/Stream | Temescal Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.75020, -117.44580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1893 (133 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Drainage Area | 56 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,347 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00766 |
| Federal ID | CA00766 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |