Cedar Springs
Cedar Springs is an earth dam located in San Bernardino County, California, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cedar Springs
The primary purpose of Cedar Springs 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 Mojave River.
The dam stands 249 feet tall and stretches 2,230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 980 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 75,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 34 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/08/2025.
At 249 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 | San Bernardino |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Mojave River |
| Coordinates | 34.30410, -117.31970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 249 ft |
| Dam Height | 249 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,230 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 75,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 75,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 75,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 980 acres |
| Drainage Area | 34 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 32,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | California Department of Water Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00049 |
| Federal ID | CA00049 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |