Middle Fork Brush Creek
Middle Fork Brush Creek is an earth dam located in Sonoma County, California, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Middle Fork Brush Creek
The primary purpose of Middle Fork Brush Creek is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Sonoma County Water Agency (local government). It impounds the Mfk Brush Cr near Santa Rosa.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 138 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 05/15/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Sonoma |
| Nearest City | Santa Rosa |
| River/Stream | Mfk Brush Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.48680, -122.67260 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Sonoma County Water Agency |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00793 |
| Federal ID | CA00793 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |