Lauro Dam
Lauro Dam is an earth dam located in Santa Barbara County, California, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lauro Dam
The primary purpose of Lauro Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Diablo Creek near Santa Barbara.
The dam stands 137 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 855 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 03/23/2021.
At 137 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 | Santa Barbara |
| Nearest City | Santa Barbara |
| River/Stream | Diablo Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.45420, -119.72720 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 137 ft |
| Dam Height | 137 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 855 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 855 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 640 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 86 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10164 |
| Federal ID | CA10164 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |