Stampede Dam
Stampede Dam is an earth dam located in Sierra County, California, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Stampede Dam
The primary purpose of Stampede 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 Little Truckee River.
The dam stands 239 feet tall and stretches 2,145 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,885 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 339,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 136 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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 08/09/2023.
At 239 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 | Sierra |
| River/Stream | Little Truckee River |
| Coordinates | 39.47510, -120.10390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 239 ft |
| Dam Height | 226 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,145 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 339,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 339,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 226,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,885 acres |
| Drainage Area | 136 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,060 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10192 |
| Federal ID | CA10192 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |