Nevada City Raw Water Reservoir is an earth dam located in Nevada County, California, built in 1980. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 48 ft48 ft tall and 908 ft long, taller than 92% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Nevada City Raw Water Reservoir
The primary purpose of Nevada City Raw Water Reservoir 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 City of Nevada (local government). It impounds the Tr Little Deer Cr.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 908 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 04/23/2025.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Nevada |
| River/Stream | Tr Little Deer Cr |
| Coordinates | 39.24620, -120.99760 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 908 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Nevada |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01186 |
| Federal ID | CA01186 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |