Ortega Dam
Ortega Dam is an earth dam located in Santa Barbara County, California, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Ortega Dam
The primary purpose of Ortega Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Santa Ynez River Os, Picay Creek.
The dam stands 131 feet tall and stretches 430 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 59 acre-feet. Completed in 1956, 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 03/24/2021.
At 131 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 |
| River/Stream | Santa Ynez River Os, Picay Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.43180, -119.59220 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 131 ft |
| Dam Height | 119 ft |
| Dam Length | 430 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 59 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 59 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 59 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Max Discharge | 22 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/24/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10176 |
| Federal ID | CA10176 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |