Orvis
Orvis is an earth dam located in Stanislaus County, California, built in 1959. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Orvis
The primary purpose of Orvis 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 C. Bruce Orvis (private). It impounds the Buckham Gulch.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 05/28/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Stanislaus |
| River/Stream | Buckham Gulch |
| Coordinates | 37.94840, -120.78340 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | C. Bruce Orvis |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00654 |
| Federal ID | CA00654 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |