Pacific Grove is an earth dam located in Monterey County, California, built in 1882. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 750 ft long, taller than 74% 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 Pacific Grove
The primary purpose of Pacific Grove 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 California American Water (private). It impounds the Tr Pacific Ocean.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1882, 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 06/24/2025.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Monterey |
| River/Stream | Tr Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 36.61220, -121.91580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | California American Water |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00691 |
| Federal ID | CA00691 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |