Ler Stehly is an earth dam located in San Diego County, California. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 60 ft60 ft tall and 420 ft long, taller than 95% 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 Ler Stehly
The primary purpose of Ler Stehly 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 Nicholas J. Stehly (private). It impounds the Tr Keys Creek.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 287 acre-feet.
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 04/02/2025.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | San Diego |
| River/Stream | Tr Keys Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.30130, -117.05660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 420 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 287 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 287 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Nicholas J. Stehly |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01227 |
| Federal ID | CA01227 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |