Sugar Pine is an earth dam located in Placer County, California, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 251 ft251 ft tall and 587 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sugar Pine
Sugar Pine is a dam in Placer, California. The dam is owned by Foresthill Public Utility District (public utility). It impounds the North Shirttail Creek, Trib to N Fork Am Riv near Auburn.
The dam stands 251 feet tall and stretches 587 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 161 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,916 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 05/22/2025.
At 251 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Placer |
| Nearest City | Auburn |
| River/Stream | North Shirttail Creek, Trib to N Fork Am Riv |
| Coordinates | 39.13070, -120.80140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 251 ft |
| Dam Height | 251 ft |
| Dam Length | 587 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,916 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,916 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Foresthill Public Utility District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01527 |
| Federal ID | CA01527 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |