Shasta Dam
Shasta Dam is a concrete dam located in Shasta County, California, built in 1945. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Shasta Dam
The primary purpose of Shasta Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Sacramento River near Redding.
The dam stands 602 feet tall and stretches 3,460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30,210 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,661,860 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6,110 square miles. Completed in 1945, 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 02/11/2022.
At 602 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 | Shasta |
| Nearest City | Redding |
| River/Stream | Sacramento River |
| Coordinates | 40.71860, -122.41920 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 602 ft |
| Dam Height | 602 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1945 (81 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,661,860 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,661,860 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,552,090 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30,210 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6,110 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 186,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/11/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10186 |
| Federal ID | CA10186 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |