Fullerton Dam
Fullerton Dam is an earth dam located in Orange County, California, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Fullerton Dam
The primary purpose of Fullerton Dam 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 Usace - Los Angeles District (federal). It impounds the East Fullerton Creek near Fullerton.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 575 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,342 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1941, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/27/2025.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Fullerton |
| River/Stream | East Fullerton Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.89648, -117.88587 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 575 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,342 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,342 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,640 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Los Angeles District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10018 |
| Federal ID | CA10018 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |