Bottoms

About Bottoms

The primary purpose of Bottoms 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 Middletown Enterprises (private). It impounds the Tr Helena Creek near Middletown.

The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 970 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 315 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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 05/14/2025.

At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.

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.

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