Mendota Diversion
Mendota Diversion is a buttress dam located in Madera County, California, built in 1917. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Mendota Diversion
Mendota Diversion is a dam in Madera, California. The dam is owned by Central California Irrigation District (public utility). It impounds the San Joaquin River.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 485 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,200 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1917, the structure is over a century 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 04/23/2025.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Madera |
| River/Stream | San Joaquin River |
| Coordinates | 36.78840, -120.37180 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 485 ft |
| Year Completed | 1917 (109 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,200 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Central California Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00886 |
| Federal ID | CA00886 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |