Lake Theodore
Lake Theodore is an earth dam located in Placer County, California, built in 1896. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Theodore
Lake Theodore is a dam in Placer, California. The dam is owned by Placer County Water Agency (local government). It impounds the Sfk Dry Creek near Clipper Gap.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 402 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 207 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1896, 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 09/24/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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 | Placer |
| Nearest City | Clipper Gap |
| River/Stream | Sfk Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.97300, -121.01360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 402 ft |
| Year Completed | 1896 (130 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 207 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 207 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Placer County Water Agency |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00360 |
| Federal ID | CA00360 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |