Box Springs
Box Springs is an earth dam located in Riverside County, California, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Box Springs
The primary purpose of Box Springs 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 Riverside County Flood Control And Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Box Springs Cr near City Of Riverside.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 405 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 12/01/2025.
At 49 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 | City Of Riverside |
| River/Stream | Box Springs Cr |
| Coordinates | 33.95870, -117.32640 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 405 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 405 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/01/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00802 |
| Federal ID | CA00802 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |