North Fork Dam is an arch dam located in Placer County, California, built in 1939. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 155 ft155 ft tall and 620 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 arch section and the water level is illustrative.
About North Fork Dam
The primary purpose of North Fork Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by USACE - Sacramento District (federal). It impounds the North Fork American River near Folsom.
The dam stands 155 feet tall and stretches 620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 280 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 19,310 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 342 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/09/2024.
At 155 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Placer |
| Nearest City | Folsom |
| River/Stream | North Fork American River |
| Coordinates | 38.93655, -121.02466 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Arch |
| NID Height | 155 ft |
| Dam Height | 143 ft |
| Dam Length | 620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 19,310 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 19,310 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,390 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 280 acres |
| Drainage Area | 342 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 65,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | USACE - Sacramento District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10110 |
| Federal ID | CA10110 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |