Adobe Creek
Adobe Creek is an earth dam located in Lake County, California, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Adobe Creek
The primary purpose of Adobe 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 Lake County Watershed Protection District (public utility). It impounds the Adobe Creek.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 64 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 695 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 11/18/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Lake |
| River/Stream | Adobe Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.94290, -122.88930 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 695 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 695 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Lake County Watershed Protection District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00827 |
| Federal ID | CA00827 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |