Crater Lake is an earth dam located in Alpine County, California, built in 1937. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 220 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Crater Lake
The primary purpose of Crater 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 Frederick W. Dressler and Kent Neddenriep (private). It impounds the Crater Lake Creek.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 320 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1937, 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 10/27/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Alpine |
| River/Stream | Crater Lake Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.72350, -119.97410 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 220 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 320 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 320 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Frederick W. Dressler and Kent Neddenriep |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00630 |
| Federal ID | CA00630 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |