Bassett Brown is an earth dam located in Napa County, California, built in 1990. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Bassett Brown
The primary purpose of Bassett Brown is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Brown Estate Vineyards (private). It impounds the Sage Creek.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 16 acre-feet. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 10/06/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Napa |
| River/Stream | Sage Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.50070, -122.28290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Brown Estate Vineyards |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/06/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01337 |
| Federal ID | CA01337 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |