Shasta River
Shasta River is an earth dam located in Siskiyou County, California, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Shasta River
The primary purpose of Shasta River 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 Montague Water Conservation District (public utility). It impounds the Shasta River near Grenada.
The dam stands 96 feet tall and stretches 1,247 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,850 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 50,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1928, 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 05/22/2025.
At 96 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 | Siskiyou |
| Nearest City | Grenada |
| River/Stream | Shasta River |
| Coordinates | 41.54110, -122.37370 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,247 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 50,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,850 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Montague Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00244 |
| Federal ID | CA00244 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |