Pine Flat Dam
Pine Flat Dam is a gravity dam located in Fresno County, California, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Pine Flat Dam
The primary purpose of Pine Flat 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 - Sacramento District (federal). It impounds the Kings River near Sanger.
The dam stands 440 feet tall and stretches 1,840 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,970 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,091,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,542 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/20/2021.
At 440 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 | Fresno |
| Nearest City | Sanger |
| River/Stream | Kings River |
| Coordinates | 36.83265, -119.32561 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 440 ft |
| Dam Height | 412 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,840 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,091,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,091,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 772,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,970 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,542 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 391,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Sacramento District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/20/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10112 |
| Federal ID | CA10112 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |