San Vicente is a roller-compacted concrete dam located in San Diego County, California, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 338 ft338 ft tall and 1,425 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About San Vicente
San Vicente is a dam in San Diego, California. The dam is owned by City of San Diego (local government). It impounds the San Vicente Creek near Lakeside.
The dam stands 338 feet tall and stretches 1,425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,675 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 245,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 74 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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 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 07/23/2024.
At 338 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 Diego |
| Nearest City | Lakeside |
| River/Stream | San Vicente Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.91160, -116.92720 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Roller-Compacted Concrete |
| NID Height | 338 ft |
| Dam Height | 338 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,425 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 245,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 245,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,675 acres |
| Drainage Area | 74 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of San Diego |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00113 |
| Federal ID | CA00113 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |