Amargosa Creek
Amargosa Creek is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1998. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Amargosa Creek
The primary purpose of Amargosa Creek 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 City Of Palmdale (local government). It impounds the Amargosa Creek.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 93 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,187 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/30/2025.
At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Los Angeles |
| River/Stream | Amargosa Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.60180, -118.24240 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,187 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,187 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Palmdale |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01406 |
| Federal ID | CA01406 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |