Rye Grass Swale
Rye Grass Swale is an earth dam located in Modoc County, California, built in 1923. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rye Grass Swale
The primary purpose of Rye Grass Swale 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 Ms. Kara Binning (private). It impounds the Tr Canyon Creek.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 120 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 530 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 06/17/2025.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Modoc |
| River/Stream | Tr Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.36290, -120.65000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 530 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 530 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 120 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Ms. Kara Binning |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00481 |
| Federal ID | CA00481 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |