Lake Cuyamaca

Lake Cuyamaca is an earth dam located in San Diego County, California, built in 1968. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Lake Cuyamaca

The primary purpose of Lake Cuyamaca 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 Lake Cuyamaca Recreation And Park District (public utility). It impounds the Boulder Creek.

The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 1,027 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 110 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 12/23/2025.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: No

Location

StateCalifornia
CountySan Diego
River/StreamBoulder Creek
Coordinates32.98750, -116.57690

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height17 ft
Dam Height17 ft
Dam Length1,027 ft
Year Completed1968 (58 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage1,000 acre-ft
Max Storage1,000 acre-ft
Surface Area110 acres
Drainage Area12 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerLake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District
Owner TypePublic Utility
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection12/23/2025
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDCA00907
Federal IDCA00907
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams