Chili Bar
Chili Bar is a concrete dam located in El Dorado County, California, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Chili Bar
The primary purpose of Chili Bar is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (public utility). It impounds the South Fork American River near Chili Bar.
The dam stands 126 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 110 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,139 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 597 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/17/2023.
At 126 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 | El Dorado |
| Nearest City | Chili Bar |
| River/Stream | South Fork American River |
| Coordinates | 38.77150, -120.81280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 126 ft |
| Dam Height | 126 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,139 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
| Drainage Area | 597 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 100,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Sacramento Municipal Utility District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00418 |
| Federal ID | CA00418 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |