Perris
Perris is an earth dam located in Riverside County, California, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Perris
The primary purpose of Perris 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 Bernasconi Pass near Perris.
The dam stands 130 feet tall and stretches 11,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,340 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 131,452 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 11/19/2025.
At 130 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 | Riverside |
| Nearest City | Perris |
| River/Stream | Bernasconi Pass |
| Coordinates | 33.86330, -117.19780 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Length | 11,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 131,452 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 131,452 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,340 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | California Department of Water Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00054 |
| Federal ID | CA00054 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |