Big Canyon Creek
Big Canyon Creek is an earth dam located in El Dorado County, California, built in 1935. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Canyon Creek
Big Canyon Creek is a dam in El Dorado, California. The dam is owned by N. Bruce And Barbara E. Ashwill (private). It impounds the Big Canyon Cr.
The dam stands 63 feet tall and stretches 432 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 395 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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 04/16/2025.
At 63 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 |
| River/Stream | Big Canyon Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.61090, -120.90360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Length | 432 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 395 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 395 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | N. Bruce and Barbara E. Ashwill |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00611 |
| Federal ID | CA00611 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |