Homestake Tailings
Homestake Tailings is an earth dam located in Lake County, California, built in 1990. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Homestake Tailings
The primary purpose of Homestake Tailings 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 Homestake Mining Company (private). It impounds the Tr Hunting Cr near Winters.
The dam stands 169 feet tall and stretches 11,670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 412 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 32,370 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 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 12/11/2025.
At 169 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Lake |
| Nearest City | Winters |
| River/Stream | Tr Hunting Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.86040, -122.43610 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 169 ft |
| Dam Height | 169 ft |
| Dam Length | 11,670 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32,370 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32,370 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 412 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Homestake Mining Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01205 |
| Federal ID | CA01205 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |