Kern River County Park
Kern River County Park is an earth dam located in Kern County, California, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Kern River County Park
The primary purpose of Kern River County Park 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 Kern County Parks And Recreation (local government). It impounds the Tr Kern River near Bakersfield.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 4,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 113 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 790 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/14/2025.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Kern |
| Nearest City | Bakersfield |
| River/Stream | Tr Kern River |
| Coordinates | 35.44140, -118.86010 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 790 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 790 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 113 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Kern County Parks and Recreation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00720 |
| Federal ID | CA00720 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |