Martinez Dam is an earth dam located in Contra Costa County, California, built in 1947. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 62 ft62 ft tall and 1,200 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Martinez Dam
The primary purpose of Martinez 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 Pacheco Creek Os, Tr Sacramento Riv.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 296 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1947, 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 06/08/2021.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Contra Costa |
| River/Stream | Pacheco Creek Os, Tr Sacramento Riv |
| Coordinates | 38.01059, -122.10855 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 296 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 296 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 268 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 53 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10168 |
| Federal ID | CA10168 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |