Dorris Dam
Dorris Dam is an earth dam located in Modoc County, California, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Dorris Dam
The primary purpose of Dorris Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Us Fish And Wildlife Service (federal). It impounds the Stockdill Slough near Alturas, California.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 3,860 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 843 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 33,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1930, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/23/2019.
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 | Modoc |
| Nearest City | Alturas, California |
| River/Stream | Stockdill Slough |
| Coordinates | 41.48809, -120.48937 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,860 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 33,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 33,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,870 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 843 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 852 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/23/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10144 |
| Federal ID | CA10144 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |