Camp Far West
Camp Far West is an earth dam located in Yuba County, California, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Camp Far West
The primary purpose of Camp Far West is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by South Sutter Water District (public utility). It impounds the Bear River near Sheridan.
The dam stands 203 feet tall and stretches 6,040 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,020 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 137,280 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 285 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 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 03/27/2023.
At 203 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 | Yuba |
| Nearest City | Sheridan |
| River/Stream | Bear River |
| Coordinates | 39.05010, -121.31650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 203 ft |
| Dam Height | 185 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,040 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 137,280 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 137,280 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93,740 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,020 acres |
| Drainage Area | 285 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 104,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | South Sutter Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00227 |
| Federal ID | CA00227 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |