C.l. Tilden Park
C.l. Tilden Park is an earth dam located in Contra Costa County, California, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About C.l. Tilden Park
C.l. Tilden Park is a dam in Contra Costa, California. The dam is owned by East Bay Regional Park District (public utility). It impounds the Wildcat Creek near Richmond/san Pablo.
The dam stands 88 feet tall and stretches 355 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 268 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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 04/15/2025.
At 88 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Contra Costa |
| Nearest City | Richmond/san Pablo |
| River/Stream | Wildcat Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.89770, -122.25040 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Length | 355 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 268 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 268 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | East Bay Regional Park District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00161 |
| Federal ID | CA00161 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |