Black Hawk is an earth dam located in Madera County, California, built in 1971. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 45 ft45 ft tall and 510 ft long, taller than 90% 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 Black Hawk
The primary purpose of Black Hawk 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 Weldon Schapansky (private). It impounds the Coarse Gold Cr.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 510 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 55 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 740 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 58 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 45 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Madera |
| River/Stream | Coarse Gold Cr |
| Coordinates | 37.16410, -119.78420 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 510 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 740 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 740 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Drainage Area | 58 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Weldon Schapansky |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00707 |
| Federal ID | CA00707 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |