Lakewood
Lakewood is an earth dam located in Placer County, California, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lakewood
The primary purpose of Lakewood is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Max Yurtsan (private). It impounds the Dry Creek near Auburn.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 152 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 10/28/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Placer |
| Nearest City | Auburn |
| River/Stream | Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.96360, -121.07670 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 152 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 152 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Max Yurtsan |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00969 |
| Federal ID | CA00969 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |