Upper Sunset Lake is an earth dam located in Alpine County, California, built in 1904. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 70 ft long. 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 Upper Sunset Lake
The primary purpose of Upper Sunset 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 Alpine Land and Reservoir Company (private). It impounds the U Pleasant Vy Cr.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 70 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1904, 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 06/26/2025.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Alpine |
| River/Stream | U Pleasant Vy Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.60940, -119.87750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 70 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Alpine Land and Reservoir Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/26/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00639 |
| Federal ID | CA00639 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |