Monticello Dam
Monticello Dam is a concrete dam located in Napa County, California, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Monticello Dam
The primary purpose of Monticello 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 Putah Creek.
The dam stands 304 feet tall and stretches 1,023 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20,240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,902,086 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 567 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 03/10/2020.
At 304 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 | Napa |
| River/Stream | Putah Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.51340, -122.10430 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 304 ft |
| Dam Height | 255 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,023 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,902,086 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,902,086 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,602,278 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20,240 acres |
| Drainage Area | 567 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 47,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/10/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10170 |
| Federal ID | CA10170 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |