Marshburn Retarding Basin
Marshburn Retarding Basin 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 Marshburn Retarding Basin
The primary purpose of Marshburn Retarding Basin 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 Tr Marshburn Chan near Irvine.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 2,456 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 424 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 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 09/17/2025.
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 | Tr Marshburn Chan |
| Coordinates | 33.69410, -117.72990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,456 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 424 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 424 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | County of Orange |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01426 |
| Federal ID | CA01426 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |