Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir
Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir is an earth dam located in Sonoma County, California, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir
The primary purpose of Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Sonoma County Water Agency (local government). It impounds the Tr Santa Rosa Cr near Santa Rosa.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 1,950 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 154 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 05/14/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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 | Sonoma |
| Nearest City | Santa Rosa |
| River/Stream | Tr Santa Rosa Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.45740, -122.64910 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,550 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Sonoma County Water Agency |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00795 |
| Federal ID | CA00795 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |