Debris Control Dams in the United States

673Total

100High Hazard

61Significant

Debris control dams catch sediment, rocks, and other debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in mountainous areas and regions prone to mudslides, wildfires, or heavy erosion. They protect downstream infrastructure like roads, bridges, and buildings from debris flows.

Many debris basins are found in Southern California and other areas where steep terrain, fire-prone landscapes, and heavy seasonal rains create debris flow risks. They're typically owned by local flood control agencies.

Debris Control Dams by State

State	Count	High Hazard	Tallest (ft)
Kansas	155	2	55
Missouri	127	29	41
California	44	35	280
Wyoming	43	2	88
Ohio	39	0	55
Illinois	36	5	108
New Mexico	34	0	38
North Carolina	29	8	32
Wisconsin	21	2	43
Oklahoma	17	0	77
South Carolina	17	6	44
Texas	17	1	50
Iowa	15	0	39
Florida	14	0	52
Arizona	11	1	43
Nevada	8	2	47
Virginia	6	2	140
Alabama	5	0	38
Colorado	5	0	44
Kentucky	5	1	66
Mississippi	5	0	35
Pennsylvania	5	3	36
Alaska	2	0	33
Indiana	2	0	32
Nebraska	2	0	26
South Dakota	2	0	31
Louisiana	1	0	9
Maine	1	0	18
North Dakota	1	0	20
New York	1	0	25
Rhode Island	1	1	16
Utah	1	0	33
West Virginia	1	0	0

Largest Debris Control Dams

#	Dam	State	Height (ft)	Hazard	Year
1	Harry L. Englebright Dam	California	280	High	1941
2	Spring Creek Debris Dam	California	196	High	1963
3	North Fork Dam	California	155	Significant	1939
4	Possum Point Ash Dam #d	Virginia	140	High
5	Coffeen Gmf Gypsum Stack Dam	Illinois	108	High
6	Bremo Power Station Dam	Virginia	102	High
7	Santa Monica Debris Basin	California	102	High	1978
8	Deer Creek Diversion	California	92	High	1928
9	Day Creek Debris Basin	California	90	High	1988
10	Units 1 And 2 Ash And Clear Water	Wyoming	88	Low	1994
11	Ler Sunset Debris Basin	California	86	High	1963
12	Sawpit Debris Basin	California	82	High	1955
13	Deer Canyon Debris Basin	California	78	High	1980
14	Oliver Ranch Dam	Oklahoma	77	Low
15	Glade Mtn Washer Site 3 Dam	Virginia	74	Undetermined
16	Little Dalton Debris Basin	California	71	High	1960
17	Haines Canyon Debris Dam	California	70	High	1938
18	Sierra Madre	California	69	High	1928
19	Small Canyon	California	68	High	1957
20	Winchester North Effluent Retention Dam	Kentucky	66	Low	1991
21	Rubio Debris Basin	California	64	High	1944
22	Eaton Wash Debris Basin	California	63	High	1936
23	Unit 3 Ash And Clear Water	Wyoming	61	Low	1994
24	Parkman Disposal	Wyoming	60	Low	1985
25	Hicks Canyon Retention Basin	California	60	Low	1997
26	Cucamonga Creek Debris Basin	California	60	High	1980
27	Ku Ghent Sediment Pond Dam	Kentucky	60	Low	1994
28	Big Dalton Debris Basin	California	59	High	1960
29	Arundell Barranca	California	57	High	1996
30	Santa Anita Debris Basin	California	56	Low	1960
31		Kansas	55	Low
32	Winton Woods Sediment Retention Pond	Ohio	55	Significant	1995
33	Stevenson Ranch	California	54	High	2004
34	Kingsford K-2	Florida	52	Low	1967
35	Detention 1593 #3 Dam	Wyoming	51	Low	1957
36		Kansas	50	Undetermined
37	Sierra Madre Villa	California	50	High	1958
38	Blanchard Debris Basin	California	50	High	1966
39	Wilson Debris Basin	California	50	High	1961
40	Kiehnhoff Farms	Kansas	50	Low	1961
41	Dam 31	Texas	50	Low	1999
42	Klein Dam	Kansas	50	Low	1975
43	Lopez Dam	California	50	High	1954
44	East Hicks Canyon Retarding Basin	California	49	Low	1997
45	San Sevaine Basin #5	California	49	High	2004
46	Clear Springs N-12	Florida	48	Low	1968
47	Little Robber Det. Dam X	Wyoming	48	High	1953
48		Kansas	47	Low
49	River Coal Saw Branch No.2 Dam	Kentucky	47	High	1972
50	La Tuna Debris Basin	California	47	High	1960