Novato Creek is an earth dam located in Marin County, California, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 71 ft71 ft tall and 650 ft long, taller than 96% 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 Novato Creek
Novato Creek is a dam in Marin, California. The dam is owned by North Marin County Water District (public utility). It impounds the Novato Creek near Novato.
The dam stands 71 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 195 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,430 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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 06/04/2025.
At 71 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Marin |
| Nearest City | Novato |
| River/Stream | Novato Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.11800, -122.63680 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 71 ft |
| Dam Height | 71 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,430 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,430 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 195 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | North Marin County Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00321 |
| Federal ID | CA00321 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |