Buchanan Dam
Buchanan Dam is a rockfill dam located in Madera County, California, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Buchanan Dam
The primary purpose of Buchanan Dam 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 Usace - Sacramento District (federal). It impounds the Chowchilla River near Chowchilla.
The dam stands 219 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,780 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 185,256 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 235 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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 10/07/2025.
At 219 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 | Madera |
| Nearest City | Chowchilla |
| River/Stream | Chowchilla River |
| Coordinates | 37.21713, -119.98453 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 219 ft |
| Dam Height | 179 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 185,256 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 185,256 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 122,576 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,780 acres |
| Drainage Area | 235 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 106,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Sacramento District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10243 |
| Federal ID | CA10243 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |