Agua Chinon
Agua Chinon is an earth dam located in Orange County, California, built in 1998. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Agua Chinon
The primary purpose of Agua Chinon is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by County Of Orange (local government). It impounds the Agua Chinon Wash near Irvine.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 256 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1998, the structure is 28 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 09/09/2025.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Irvine |
| River/Stream | Agua Chinon Wash |
| Coordinates | 33.68880, -117.69540 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 256 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 256 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | County of Orange |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01361 |
| Federal ID | CA01361 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |