Pardee is a concrete dam located in Calaveras County, California, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 352 ft352 ft tall and 1,337 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 Pardee
The primary purpose of Pardee 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 East Bay Municipal Utility District (public utility). It impounds the Mokelumne River near Clements.
The dam stands 352 feet tall and stretches 1,337 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 198,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 576 square miles. Completed in 1929, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/12/2023.
At 352 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 | Calaveras |
| Nearest City | Clements |
| River/Stream | Mokelumne River |
| Coordinates | 38.25710, -120.85000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 352 ft |
| Dam Height | 352 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,337 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 198,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 198,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 190,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 576 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | East Bay Municipal Utility District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/12/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00164 |
| Federal ID | CA00164 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |