Thermalito Diversion is a concrete dam located in Butte County, California, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 143 ft143 ft tall and 1,300 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Thermalito Diversion
The primary purpose of Thermalito Diversion 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 California Department of Water Resources (state). It impounds the Feather River near Oroville.
The dam stands 143 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 323 acres, has a storage capacity of 13,328 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,640 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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. 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 08/22/2023.
At 143 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 | Butte |
| Nearest City | Oroville |
| River/Stream | Feather River |
| Coordinates | 39.52880, -121.54490 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 143 ft |
| Dam Height | 143 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,328 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,328 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 323 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,640 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 150,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | California Department of Water Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00036 |
| Federal ID | CA00036 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |