Friant Dike 3
Friant Dike 3 is an earth dam located in Fresno County, California, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Friant Dike 3
The primary purpose of Friant Dike 3 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal).
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 272 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,900 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 555,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,633 square miles. Completed in 1942, 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 02/09/2023.
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 | Fresno |
| Nearest City | Fresno |
| Coordinates | 36.98570, -119.68290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 272 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 555,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 555,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 520,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,900 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,633 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10154 |
| Federal ID | CA10154S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |