Rains Creek is an earth dam located in Lassen County, California, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 1,840 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Rains Creek
The primary purpose of Rains Creek 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 Richard W. Callison (private). It impounds the Fraser Creek near Pittville.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 1,840 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 126 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/05/2025.
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 | Lassen |
| Nearest City | Pittville |
| River/Stream | Fraser Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.10630, -121.31230 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,840 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Richard W. Callison |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00959 |
| Federal ID | CA00959 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |