The Hill Ranch
The Hill Ranch is an earth dam located in Sonoma County, California, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About The Hill Ranch
The primary purpose of The Hill Ranch 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 Mark Whitt And Thia Kellner Hill Revocable Trust (private). It impounds the Santa Rosa Cr near Oakmont.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 202 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 06/05/2025.
At 49 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Sonoma |
| Nearest City | Oakmont |
| River/Stream | Santa Rosa Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.44460, -122.59070 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 202 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Mark Whitt and Thia Kellner Hill Revocable Trust |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01273 |
| Federal ID | CA01273 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |