North Fork
North Fork is an earth dam located in Santa Clara County, California, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About North Fork
The primary purpose of North Fork 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 Pacheco Pass Water District (public utility). It impounds the Pacheco Creek near Hollister.
The dam stands 100 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 197 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 67 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/12/2025.
At 100 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 | Santa Clara |
| Nearest City | Hollister |
| River/Stream | Pacheco Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.04980, -121.29210 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,150 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 197 acres |
| Drainage Area | 67 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Pacheco Pass Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/12/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00299 |
| Federal ID | CA00299 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |