Salinas Dam is a concrete dam located in San Luis Obispo County, California, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 135 ft135 ft tall and 305 ft long, taller than 99% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Salinas Dam
The primary purpose of Salinas 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 USACE - Los Angeles District (federal). It impounds the Salinas River near Santa Margarita.
The dam stands 135 feet tall and stretches 305 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 793 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 111 square miles. Completed in 1941, 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 05/03/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 135 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 | San Luis Obispo |
| Nearest City | Santa Margarita |
| River/Stream | Salinas River |
| Coordinates | 35.33716, -120.50273 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Length | 305 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 26,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 793 acres |
| Drainage Area | 111 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 27,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | USACE - Los Angeles District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/03/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10202 |
| Federal ID | CA10202 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |