Bee Canyon Retention Basin
Bee Canyon Retention Basin is an earth dam located in Orange County, California, built in 1994. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bee Canyon Retention Basin
The primary purpose of Bee Canyon Retention Basin 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 County Of Orange (local government). It impounds the Bee Canyon Wash.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 570 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 243 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1994, the structure is 32 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/09/2025.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Orange |
| River/Stream | Bee Canyon Wash |
| Coordinates | 33.70570, -117.71380 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1994 (32 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 243 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 243 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | County of Orange |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01360 |
| Federal ID | CA01360 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |