Sand Canyon
Sand Canyon is an earth dam located in Orange County, California, built in 1912. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sand Canyon
The primary purpose of Sand Canyon 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 Irvine Ranch Water District (public utility). It impounds the Sand Canyon near Irvine.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 861 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 51 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 960 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century 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 05/06/2025.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Irvine |
| River/Stream | Sand Canyon |
| Coordinates | 33.64770, -117.79470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 861 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 51 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Irvine Ranch Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/06/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00854 |
| Federal ID | CA00854 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |