Lake Loveland
Lake Loveland is an arch dam located in San Diego County, California, built in 1945. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Loveland
The primary purpose of Lake Loveland 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 Sweetwater Authority (public utility). It impounds the Sweetwater Rv near Dehesa.
The dam stands 203 feet tall and stretches 765 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 454 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 98 square miles. Completed in 1945, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 02/05/2025.
At 203 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | San Diego |
| Nearest City | Dehesa |
| River/Stream | Sweetwater Rv |
| Coordinates | 32.78080, -116.79400 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Arch |
| NID Height | 203 ft |
| Dam Height | 203 ft |
| Dam Length | 765 ft |
| Year Completed | 1945 (81 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 454 acres |
| Drainage Area | 98 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Sweetwater Authority |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00776 |
| Federal ID | CA00776 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |