Robert a Skinner is an earth dam located in Riverside County, California, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 109 ft109 ft tall and 5,150 ft long, taller than 98% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Robert a Skinner
Robert a Skinner is a dam in Riverside, California. The dam is owned by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (public utility). It impounds the Tucalota Creek near Winchester.
The dam stands 109 feet tall and stretches 5,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 860 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 51 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 10/28/2025.
At 109 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Riverside |
| Nearest City | Winchester |
| River/Stream | Tucalota Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.59610, -117.07030 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 109 ft |
| Dam Height | 109 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 860 acres |
| Drainage Area | 51 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Metropolitan Water District of Southern California |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00223 |
| Federal ID | CA00223 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |