Carpinteria Dam
Carpinteria Dam is an earth dam located in Santa Barbara County, California, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Carpinteria Dam
The primary purpose of Carpinteria Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Carpinteria Creek Os near Carpinteria.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 1,350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 03/24/2021.
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 | Santa Barbara |
| Nearest City | Carpinteria |
| River/Stream | Carpinteria Creek Os |
| Coordinates | 34.40660, -119.48660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/24/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10138 |
| Federal ID | CA10138 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |