Buckhorn Dam
Buckhorn Dam is an earth dam located in Trinity County, California, built in 1991. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Buckhorn Dam
Buckhorn Dam is a dam in Trinity, California. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Grass Valley Creek.
The dam stands 87 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,460 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 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 09/17/2020.
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 | Trinity |
| River/Stream | Grass Valley Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.62470, -122.75880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1991 (35 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,460 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,460 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10349 |
| Federal ID | CA10349 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |