Bradbury Dam
Bradbury Dam is an earth dam located in Santa Barbara County, California, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bradbury Dam
The primary purpose of Bradbury Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Santa Ynez River near Cachuma Village.
The dam stands 279 feet tall and stretches 3,350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,090 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 206,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 417 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/16/2023.
At 279 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Santa Barbara |
| Nearest City | Cachuma Village |
| River/Stream | Santa Ynez River |
| Coordinates | 34.58720, -119.98150 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 279 ft |
| Dam Height | 279 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 206,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 206,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 172,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,090 acres |
| Drainage Area | 417 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 159,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10136 |
| Federal ID | CA10136 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |