Tinemaha

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.

At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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.