Owens Dam
Owens Dam is an earth dam located in Mariposa County, California, built in 1949. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Owens Dam
The primary purpose of Owens Dam 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 Usace - Sacramento District (federal). It impounds the Owens Creek near Planada.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 790 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 175 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,064 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1949, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/22/2023.
At 75 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Mariposa |
| Nearest City | Planada |
| River/Stream | Owens Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.31464, -120.18634 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 790 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,064 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,064 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,138 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 175 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Sacramento District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10111 |
| Federal ID | CA10111 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |