Foss Creek North Area
Foss Creek North Area is an earth dam located in Sonoma County, California, built in 1998. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Foss Creek North Area
The primary purpose of Foss Creek North Area is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Healdsburg (local government). It impounds the Foss Creek near Healdsburg.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1998, the structure is 28 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 04/23/2025.
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 | Healdsburg |
| River/Stream | Foss Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.64350, -122.87080 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Healdsburg |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01431 |
| Federal ID | CA01431 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |