Virginia Ranch
Virginia Ranch is an earth dam located in Yuba County, California, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Virginia Ranch
The primary purpose of Virginia Ranch is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Browns Valley Irrigation District (public utility). It impounds the French Dry Creek near Browns Valley.
The dam stands 172 feet tall and stretches 2,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 975 acres, has a storage capacity of 57,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 72 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 08/10/2023.
At 172 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Yuba |
| Nearest City | Browns Valley |
| River/Stream | French Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.32360, -121.30970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 172 ft |
| Dam Height | 152 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 57,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 57,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 975 acres |
| Drainage Area | 72 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 56,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Browns Valley Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00842 |
| Federal ID | CA00842 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |