Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon is an earth dam located in Humboldt County, California, built in 1947. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Big Lagoon

The primary purpose of Big Lagoon 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 California Redwood Acquisition Company (private). It impounds the Big Lagoon.

The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 3,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 780 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1947, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 05/07/2025.

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Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: No

Location

StateCalifornia
CountyHumboldt
River/StreamBig Lagoon
Coordinates41.15590, -124.10227

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height16 ft
Dam Height16 ft
Dam Length3,700 ft
Year Completed1947 (79 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage780 acre-ft
Max Storage780 acre-ft
Surface Area78 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerCalifornia Redwood Acquisition Company
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection05/07/2025
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDCA00503
Federal IDCA00503
More InfoState Dam Safety Program