Tinemaha is an earth dam located in Inyo County, California, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 5,800 ft long, taller than 74% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Tinemaha
Tinemaha is a dam in Inyo, California. The dam is owned by City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (local government). It impounds the Owens River near Aberdeen.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 5,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,098 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,405 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,915 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2024.
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 | Inyo |
| Nearest City | Aberdeen |
| River/Stream | Owens River |
| Coordinates | 37.05580, -118.22810 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,405 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,405 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,098 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,915 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00084 |
| Federal ID | CA00084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |