Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is an earth dam located in Riverside County, California, built in 1923. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fairmount Park
The primary purpose of Fairmount Park 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 City Of Riverside (local government). It impounds the Tr Santa Ana River near Riverside.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1923, 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 11/06/2025.
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 | Riverside |
| River/Stream | Tr Santa Ana River |
| Coordinates | 33.99540, -117.38250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Riverside |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00304 |
| Federal ID | CA00304 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |