San Pablo is an earth dam located in Contra Costa County, California, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 170 ft170 ft tall and 1,250 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About San Pablo
The primary purpose of San Pablo 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 San Pablo Creek.
The dam stands 170 feet tall and stretches 1,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 854 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43,193 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century old.
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 02/05/2025.
At 170 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 | Contra Costa |
| River/Stream | San Pablo Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.94460, -122.25980 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 170 ft |
| Dam Height | 170 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43,193 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43,193 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 854 acres |
| Drainage Area | 32 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | East Bay Municipal Utility District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00166 |
| Federal ID | CA00166 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |