Mendocino 3 Upper
Mendocino 3 Upper is a gravity dam located in Mendocino County, California, built in 1915. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Mendocino 3 Upper
Mendocino 3 Upper is a dam in Mendocino, California. The dam is owned by County Of Mendocino (local government). It impounds the Middle Creek near Talmage.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 254 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2024.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Mendocino |
| Nearest City | Talmage |
| River/Stream | Middle Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.12740, -123.13020 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 254 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | County of Mendocino |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00002 |
| Federal ID | CA00002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |