Prosser Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Nevada County, California, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 166 ft166 ft tall and 1,830 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Prosser Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Prosser Creek 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 Prosser Creek.
The dam stands 166 feet tall and stretches 1,830 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 980 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41,220 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 50 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 08/10/2022.
At 166 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 | Nevada |
| River/Stream | Prosser Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.37890, -120.13860 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 166 ft |
| Dam Height | 133 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,830 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41,220 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41,220 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29,840 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 980 acres |
| Drainage Area | 50 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,130 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 | 08/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10179 |
| Federal ID | CA10179 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |