Rio Bravo Canal is a concrete dam located in Kern County, California, built in 1988. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 7,400 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Rio Bravo Canal
The primary purpose of Rio Bravo Canal 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 Olcese Water District (public utility). It impounds the Kern River near Bakersfield.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 7,400 feet across, and has a storage capacity of 1 acre-feet. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/31/2023.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Kern |
| Nearest City | Bakersfield |
| River/Stream | Kern River |
| Coordinates | 35.43380, -118.80750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Olcese Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10432 |
| Federal ID | CA10432 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |