Palo Verde
Palo Verde is an earth dam located in San Diego County, California, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Palo Verde
The primary purpose of Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde Ranch Homeowners (private). It impounds the Sweetwater Rv near El Cajon.
The dam stands 67 feet tall and stretches 758 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 54 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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 04/22/2025.
At 67 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | El Cajon |
| River/Stream | Sweetwater Rv |
| Coordinates | 32.81190, -116.73040 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Length | 758 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Drainage Area | 54 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Palo Verde Ranch Homeowners |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00789 |
| Federal ID | CA00789 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |