Crawford Ranch
Crawford Ranch is an earth dam located in Mendocino County, California, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Crawford Ranch
Crawford Ranch is a dam in Mendocino, California. The dam is owned by Mcdowell Valley Farming Company, Llc (private). It impounds the Tr Mcdowell Cr near Hopland.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 04/16/2025.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Mendocino |
| Nearest City | Hopland |
| River/Stream | Tr Mcdowell Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.97550, -123.05870 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 340 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | McDowell Valley Farming Company, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00977 |
| Federal ID | CA00977 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |