Hartzell
Hartzell is an earth dam located in San Luis Obispo County, California, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Hartzell
The primary purpose of Hartzell 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 Land Conservancy Of Slo County (private). It impounds the Santa Rita Cr.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 275 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 11/03/2025.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | San Luis Obispo |
| River/Stream | Santa Rita Cr |
| Coordinates | 35.52500, -120.84470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 275 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Land Conservancy of SLO County |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00727 |
| Federal ID | CA00727 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |