Richardson is an earth dam located in Sonoma County, California, built in 1974. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 137 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Richardson
The primary purpose of Richardson 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 Rips Redwood, LLC (private). It impounds the Tr Gualala Rv.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 137 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 96 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 04/21/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Sonoma |
| River/Stream | Tr Gualala Rv |
| Coordinates | 38.68080, -123.37400 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 137 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Rips Redwood, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01142 |
| Federal ID | CA01142 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |