Ward Lake

Ward Lake is an earth dam located in Lassen County, California, built in 1889. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Ward Lake

The primary purpose of Ward Lake 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 R. And H. Leasing (private). It impounds the Tr Susan River.

The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 60 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1889, 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 06/18/2025.

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Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: No

Location

StateCalifornia
CountyLassen
River/StreamTr Susan River
Coordinates40.40710, -120.43620

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height23 ft
Dam Height23 ft
Dam Length800 ft
Year Completed1889 (137 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage350 acre-ft
Max Storage350 acre-ft
Surface Area60 acres
Drainage Area2 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerR. and H. Leasing
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection06/18/2025
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDCA00508
Federal IDCA00508
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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