Nimbus Dam
Nimbus Dam is a concrete dam located in Sacramento County, California, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Nimbus Dam
The primary purpose of Nimbus Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the American River near Fair Oaks.
The dam stands 87 feet tall and stretches 1,093 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 540 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,899 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 09/18/2020.
At 87 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Sacramento |
| Nearest City | Fair Oaks |
| River/Stream | American River |
| Coordinates | 38.63620, -121.21970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,093 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 540 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,899 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 300,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10174 |
| Federal ID | CA10174 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |