Jackson Creek
Jackson Creek is an earth dam located in Amador County, California, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Jackson Creek
The primary purpose of Jackson Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Jackson Valley Irrigation District (local government). It impounds the Jackson Creek near Buena Vista.
The dam stands 193 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 450 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 24,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 58 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 10/26/2022.
At 193 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 | Amador |
| Nearest City | Buena Vista |
| River/Stream | Jackson Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.30370, -120.88880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 193 ft |
| Dam Height | 193 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 24,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 24,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 450 acres |
| Drainage Area | 58 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 51,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Jackson Valley Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00867 |
| Federal ID | CA00867 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |