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List of dam removals in California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2011 breaching of the Dream Lake Dam in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

This is a list of dams in California that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.

Completed removals

[edit]
Dam[1] Height Year removed Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Roy's Dam 2020 San Geronimo Creek Tomales Bay Farming stock pond owned by a private golf course.
Rogers Dam 40 ft (12 m) 1983 Point Reyes Station
38°02′49″N 122°47′13″W / 38.0469°N 122.787°W / 38.0469; -122.787 (Rogers Dam)
Tributary to Olema Creek
North Debris Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 2002 Tributary to Los Angeles River Los Angeles River
Trancas Debris Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) 2002 Tributary to Trancas Creek Trancas Creek
HJFD1 2.5 ft (0.76 m) 2018 Orange County
33°40′45″N 117°31′02″W / 33.6793°N 117.5172°W / 33.6793; -117.5172 (HJFD1)
Holy Jim Creek San Juan Creek The Trabuco District Dam Removal Project is an initiative of the Cleveland National Forest to remove over 80 dams on four streams. The "fish check dams" were originally built to create pools for a stocked rainbow trout fishery and to store water for conservation and fire suppression. The removals are intended to improve passage of fish and other aquatic species.[2][3]
HJFD2 4 ft (1.2 m) 2018 Orange County
33°40′50″N 117°31′02″W / 33.6805°N 117.5173°W / 33.6805; -117.5173 (HJFD2)
HJFD3 3 ft (0.91 m) 2019 Orange County
33°40′58″N 117°30′57″W / 33.6827°N 117.5159°W / 33.6827; -117.5159 (HJFD3)
HJFD4 2 ft (0.61 m) 2019 Orange County
33°40′58″N 117°30′57″W / 33.6829°N 117.5159°W / 33.6829; -117.5159 (HJFD4)
HJFD5 5 ft (1.5 m) 2019 Orange County
33°40′59″N 117°30′57″W / 33.683°N 117.5159°W / 33.683; -117.5159 (HJFD5)
HJFD6 2.3 ft (0.70 m) 2014 Orange County
33°41′00″N 117°30′58″W / 33.6833°N 117.516°W / 33.6833; -117.516 (HJFD6)
HJFD7 2.5 ft (0.76 m) 2014 Orange County
33°41′00″N 117°30′58″W / 33.6833°N 117.516°W / 33.6833; -117.516 (HJFD7)
HJFD8 5 ft (1.5 m) 2014 Orange County
33°41′01″N 117°30′58″W / 33.6835°N 117.516°W / 33.6835; -117.516 (HJFD8)
HJFD9 2.3 ft (0.70 m) 2014 Orange County
33°41′01″N 117°30′58″W / 33.6837°N 117.516°W / 33.6837; -117.516 (HJFD9)
HJFD10 1.5 ft (0.46 m) 2014 Orange County
33°41′01″N 117°30′58″W / 33.6837°N 117.516°W / 33.6837; -117.516 (HJFD10)
HJFD11 1 ft (0.30 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′02″N 117°30′54″W / 33.6838°N 117.5151°W / 33.6838; -117.5151 (HJFD11)
HJFD15 9.3 ft (2.8 m) 2017 Orange County
33°41′17″N 117°30′45″W / 33.6881°N 117.5125°W / 33.6881; -117.5125 (HJFD15)
HJFD16 2 ft (0.61 m) 2017 Orange County
33°41′20″N 117°30′43″W / 33.6888°N 117.5119°W / 33.6888; -117.5119 (HJFD16)
HJFD17 4 ft (1.2 m) 2017 Orange County
33°41′20″N 117°30′43″W / 33.6888°N 117.5119°W / 33.6888; -117.5119 (HJFD17)
HJFD18 3.5 ft (1.1 m) 2017 Orange County
33°41′20″N 117°30′42″W / 33.689°N 117.5118°W / 33.689; -117.5118 (HJFD18)
HJFD19 2.5 ft (0.76 m) 2017 Orange County
33°41′21″N 117°30′42″W / 33.6891°N 117.5117°W / 33.6891; -117.5117 (HJFD19)
HJFD21 7.5–4.0 ft (2.3–1.2 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′27″N 117°30′42″W / 33.6907°N 117.5118°W / 33.6907; -117.5118 (HJFD21)
HJFD22 5 ft (1.5 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′27″N 117°30′42″W / 33.6909°N 117.5118°W / 33.6909; -117.5118 (HJFD22)
HJFD23 3.0–0.0 ft (0.91–0.00 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′28″N 117°30′42″W / 33.6911°N 117.5118°W / 33.6911; -117.5118 (HJFD23)
HJFD25 4 ft (1.2 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′29″N 117°30′42″W / 33.6915°N 117.5116°W / 33.6915; -117.5116 (HJFD25)
HJFD26 6.0–0.0 ft (1.8–0.0 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′30″N 117°30′41″W / 33.6916°N 117.5115°W / 33.6916; -117.5115 (HJFD26)
HJFD29 6 ft (1.8 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′32″N 117°30′44″W / 33.6922°N 117.5121°W / 33.6922; -117.5121 (HJFD29)
HJFD30 4 ft (1.2 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′32″N 117°30′44″W / 33.6922°N 117.5121°W / 33.6922; -117.5121 (HJFD30)
HJFD31 6.0–0.0 ft (1.8–0.0 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′32″N 117°30′44″W / 33.6923°N 117.5123°W / 33.6923; -117.5123 (HJFD31)
HJFD32 9.5–4.0 ft (2.9–1.2 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′33″N 117°30′46″W / 33.6925°N 117.5127°W / 33.6925; -117.5127 (HJFD32)
HJFD33 6.8–0.0 ft (2.1–0.0 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′34″N 117°30′46″W / 33.6928°N 117.5129°W / 33.6928; -117.5129 (HJFD33)
HJFD34 7.0–3.0 ft (2.13–0.91 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′34″N 117°30′48″W / 33.6928°N 117.5132°W / 33.6928; -117.5132 (HJFD34)
HJFD34.1/35 2018 Orange County
33°41′34″N 117°30′48″W / 33.6928°N 117.5132°W / 33.6928; -117.5132 (HJFD34.1/35)
HJFD37 3 ft (0.91 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′35″N 117°30′49″W / 33.693°N 117.5136°W / 33.693; -117.5136 (HJFD37)
HJFD40 2.6 ft (0.79 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′36″N 117°30′51″W / 33.6934°N 117.5142°W / 33.6934; -117.5142 (HJFD40)
HJFD41 2.8 ft (0.85 m) 2018 Orange County
33°41′37″N 117°30′51″W / 33.6935°N 117.5142°W / 33.6935; -117.5142 (HJFD41)
SJFD1 9 ft (2.7 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′25″N 117°30′06″W / 33.5902°N 117.5018°W / 33.5902; -117.5018 (SJFD1)
San Juan Creek
SJFD2 2.5 ft (0.76 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′25″N 117°30′06″W / 33.5903°N 117.5018°W / 33.5903; -117.5018 (SJFD2)
SJFD3 2.5–6 ft (0.76–1.83 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′25″N 117°30′06″W / 33.5904°N 117.5017°W / 33.5904; -117.5017 (SJFD3)
SJFD4 5.0–9.0 ft (1.5–2.7 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′26″N 117°30′06″W / 33.5905°N 117.5017°W / 33.5905; -117.5017 (SJFD4)
SJFD5 4.0–5.0 ft (1.2–1.5 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′27″N 117°30′05″W / 33.5908°N 117.5015°W / 33.5908; -117.5015 (SJFD5)
SJFD6 0–3.4 ft (0.0–1.0 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′27″N 117°30′05″W / 33.5908°N 117.5015°W / 33.5908; -117.5015 (SJFD6)
SJFD7 4.8 ft (1.5 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′27″N 117°30′04″W / 33.5909°N 117.501°W / 33.5909; -117.501 (SJFD7)
SJFD9 3.0–4.5 ft (0.91–1.37 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′27″N 117°30′01″W / 33.5908°N 117.5002°W / 33.5908; -117.5002 (SJFD9)
SJFD10 2.0–3.0 ft (0.61–0.91 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′27″N 117°30′00″W / 33.5907°N 117.4999°W / 33.5907; -117.4999 (SJFD10)
SJFD11 1.0–5.0 ft (0.30–1.52 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′26″N 117°29′59″W / 33.5906°N 117.4998°W / 33.5906; -117.4998 (SJFD11)
SJFD12 10 ft (3.0 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′26″N 117°29′59″W / 33.5906°N 117.4996°W / 33.5906; -117.4996 (SJFD12)
SJFD13 2 ft (0.61 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′27″N 117°29′56″W / 33.5907°N 117.499°W / 33.5907; -117.499 (SJFD13)
SJFD14 12 ft (3.7 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′33″N 117°29′50″W / 33.5926°N 117.4973°W / 33.5926; -117.4973 (SJFD14)
SJFD15 4 ft (1.2 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′34″N 117°29′46″W / 33.5928°N 117.4962°W / 33.5928; -117.4962 (SJFD15)
SJFD17 2 ft (0.61 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′34″N 117°28′18″W / 33.5927°N 117.4716°W / 33.5927; -117.4716 (SJFD17)
SJFD18 3 ft (0.91 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′33″N 117°28′24″W / 33.5925°N 117.4734°W / 33.5925; -117.4734 (SJFD18)
SJFD19 6 ft (1.8 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′33″N 117°28′30″W / 33.5925°N 117.4749°W / 33.5925; -117.4749 (SJFD19)
SJFD20 10 ft (3.0 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′34″N 117°28′31″W / 33.5929°N 117.4753°W / 33.5929; -117.4753 (SJFD20)
SJFD21 3 ft (0.91 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′32″N 117°28′15″W / 33.5921°N 117.4709°W / 33.5921; -117.4709 (SJFD21)
SJFD22 2 ft (0.61 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′32″N 117°28′15″W / 33.5921°N 117.4708°W / 33.5921; -117.4708 (SJFD22)
SJFD23 13 ft (4.0 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′39″N 117°28′05″W / 33.5942°N 117.4681°W / 33.5942; -117.4681 (SJFD23)
SJFD24 5 ft (1.5 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′32″N 117°28′15″W / 33.5921°N 117.4708°W / 33.5921; -117.4708 (SJFD24)
SJFD25 2 ft (0.61 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′39″N 117°28′05″W / 33.5942°N 117.4681°W / 33.5942; -117.4681 (SJFD25)
SJFD26 5 ft (1.5 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′38″N 117°28′00″W / 33.5938°N 117.4667°W / 33.5938; -117.4667 (SJFD26)
SJFD27 5 ft (1.5 m) 2019 Orange County
33°35′37″N 117°27′59″W / 33.5937°N 117.4663°W / 33.5937; -117.4663 (SJFD27)
SJFD28 4.5–5.0 ft (1.4–1.5 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′50″N 117°27′45″W / 33.5973°N 117.4624°W / 33.5973; -117.4624 (SJFD28)
SJFD29 1.5–2.0 ft (0.46–0.61 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′52″N 117°27′42″W / 33.5978°N 117.4618°W / 33.5978; -117.4618 (SJFD29)
SJFD30 2.5 ft (0.76 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′53″N 117°27′41″W / 33.598°N 117.4615°W / 33.598; -117.4615 (SJFD30)
SJFD31 4.0–4.5 ft (1.2–1.4 m) 2018 Orange County
33°35′57″N 117°27′41″W / 33.5993°N 117.4614°W / 33.5993; -117.4614 (SJFD31)
TCFD7 6 ft (1.8 m) 2014 Orange County
33°40′27″N 117°31′34″W / 33.6742°N 117.526°W / 33.6742; -117.526 (TCFD7)
Trabuco Creek
TCFD9 9 ft (2.7 m) 2014 Orange County
33°40′28″N 117°31′30″W / 33.6744°N 117.525°W / 33.6744; -117.525 (TCFD9)
TCFD10 2.5 ft (0.76 m) 2014 Orange County
33°40′28″N 117°31′30″W / 33.6744°N 117.525°W / 33.6744; -117.525 (TCFD10)
TCFD11 6.5 ft (2.0 m) 2014 Orange County
33°40′28″N 117°31′30″W / 33.6745°N 117.525°W / 33.6745; -117.525 (TCFD11)
TCFD11 6.5 ft (2.0 m) 2018 Orange County
33°40′28″N 117°31′30″W / 33.6744°N 117.5251°W / 33.6744; -117.5251 (TCFD11)
SCFD4 10 ft (3.0 m) 2019 Orange County
33°45′07″N 117°34′31″W / 33.75193°N 117.57539°W / 33.75193; -117.57539 (SCFD4)
Silverado Creek Santa Ana River
SCFD5 3 ft (0.91 m) 2019 Orange County
33°45′08″N 117°34′30″W / 33.75209°N 117.57513°W / 33.75209; -117.57513 (SCFD5)
SCFD7 6.5 ft (2.0 m) 2017 Orange County
33°45′05″N 117°34′16″W / 33.7514°N 117.5711°W / 33.7514; -117.5711 (SCFD7)
SCFD8 6.5 ft (2.0 m) 2017 Orange County
33°45′06″N 117°34′16″W / 33.7517°N 117.571°W / 33.7517; -117.571 (SCFD8)
SCFD10 7.5 ft (2.3 m) 2017 Orange County
33°45′07″N 117°34′14″W / 33.7519°N 117.5705°W / 33.7519; -117.5705 (SCFD10)
SCFD12 4 ft (1.2 m) 2017 Orange County
33°45′08″N 117°34′05″W / 33.7522°N 117.5681°W / 33.7522; -117.5681 (SCFD12)
Glenbrook Gulch Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2010 Mendocino County
39°15′55″N 123°40′08″W / 39.2653°N 123.669°W / 39.2653; -123.669 (Glenbrook Gulch Dam)
Glenbrook Gulch Albion River Water diversion dam owned by a timber company.
Unknown 2014 Irmulco
39°25′14″N 123°30′07″W / 39.4205°N 123.502°W / 39.4205; -123.502 (Unknown)
Olds Creek Noyo River
D.B. Fields/Johnson Dam 1946 Mendocino County
39°17′42″N 123°23′56″W / 39.2951°N 123.399°W / 39.2951; -123.399 (D.B. Fields/Johnson Dam)
Rice Creek Big River
McGowan Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 1998 Butte Creek Butte Creek Irrigation dam.
Western Canal East Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1998
Western Canal Main Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1998
McPherrin Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 1998 Biggs
39°26′48″N 121°52′26″W / 39.4467°N 121.874°W / 39.4467; -121.874 (McPherrin Dam)
Old Carmel River Dam 32 ft (9.8 m) 2016 Monterey
36°26′20″N 121°42′17″W / 36.4388°N 121.7048°W / 36.4388; -121.7048 (Old Carmel River Dam)
Carmel River Carmel River Owned by California American Water.
San Clemente Dam 106 ft (32 m) 2015 Monterey County
36°26′09″N 121°42′32″W / 36.4359°N 121.7088°W / 36.4359; -121.7088 (San Clemente Dam)
Owned by California American Water, the dam was deemed unsafe in 1992 by the Department of Water Resources. It was no longer serving its use by supplying water to the Monterey Peninsula and blocked steelhead from spawning upstream.[4]
Pennington Creek Dam 2018 San Luis Obispo
35°20′37″N 120°43′58″W / 35.3436°N 120.7328°W / 35.3436; -120.7328 (Pennington Creek Dam)
Pennington Creek Morro Bay
Upper Dam (Lost Man Dam) 7 ft (2.1 m) 1989 41°19′45″N 124°01′19″W / 41.3291°N 124.0219°W / 41.3291; -124.0219 (Upper Dam (Lost Man Dam)) Lost Man Creek Redwood Creek
Sweasey Dam 55 ft (17 m) 1970 Arcata
40°49′11″N 123°57′22″W / 40.8196°N 123.956°W / 40.8196; -123.956 (Sweasey Dam)
Mad River Mad River
East Mill Creek Barrier 12 ft (3.7 m) 2008 Humboldt County
40°19′17″N 124°16′23″W / 40.3215°N 124.273°W / 40.3215; -124.273 (East Mill Creek Barrier)
East Mill Creek Mattole River
Cahill Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2013 Santa Cruz
37°02′17″N 121°59′10″W / 37.038°N 121.986°W / 37.038; -121.986 (Cahill Dam)
Branciforte Creek Monterey Bay Water supply, recreation, and fire protection dam.
Tucker Road Ford 5 ft (1.5 m) 2006 Los Gatos
37°06′00″N 121°57′29″W / 37.0999°N 121.958°W / 37.0999; -121.958 (Tucker Road Ford)
Soquel Creek Monterey Bay
Crocker Creek Dam 30 ft (9.1 m) 2002 Cloverdale
38°46′38″N 122°57′32″W / 38.7771°N 122.959°W / 38.7771; -122.959 (Crocker Creek Dam)
Crocker Creek Russian River Dam built for recreation.
Camp Meeker Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2009 Occidental
38°25′29″N 122°57′32″W / 38.4247°N 122.959°W / 38.4247; -122.959 (Camp Meeker Dam)
Dutch Bill Creek
Fife Creek Check Dam 2010 Guerneville
38°32′00″N 123°00′14″W / 38.5334°N 123.004°W / 38.5334; -123.004 (Fife Creek Check Dam)
Fife Creek
Dempster Vineyard Dam 6.6 ft (2.0 m) 2018 Forestville
38°29′10″N 122°55′06″W / 38.4861°N 122.9183°W / 38.4861; -122.9183 (Dempster Vineyard Dam)
Green Valley Creek Irrigation and frost protection dam.
Iron Horse Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2019 Sonoma County
38°27′48″N 122°53′48″W / 38.4632°N 122.8968°W / 38.4632; -122.8968 (Iron Horse Dam)
Water supply dam.
Mumford Dam 2003 Redwood Valley
39°16′39″N 123°12′29″W / 39.2774°N 123.208°W / 39.2774; -123.208 (Mumford Dam)
West Fork Russian River
Shasta River Water Association Diversion Dam 2009 Shasta County
40°51′12″N 122°20′49″W / 40.8534°N 122.347°W / 40.8534; -122.347 (Shasta River Water Association Diversion Dam)
Nelson Creek Sacramento River Irrigation dam.
Wildcat Dam 2009 Anderson
40°25′13″N 121°57′40″W / 40.4202°N 121.961°W / 40.4202; -121.961 (Wildcat Dam)
North Fork Battle Creek Hydropower dam owned by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Double U Fish Ranch Dam[5] 27 ft (8.2 m) 2023 Modoc County
41°27′20″N 120°54′03″W / 41.4555°N 120.9008°W / 41.4555; -120.9008 (Double U Fish Ranch Dam)
Howards Gulch
Beale Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2020 Beale Air Force Base
39°06′30″N 121°20′19″W / 39.1084°N 121.3385°W / 39.1084; -121.3385 (Beale Dam)
Dry Creek Recreation dam owned by the U.S. Air Force.
Dream Lake Dam 2011 Lassen Volcanic National Park
40°26′31″N 121°24′30″W / 40.442°N 121.4084°W / 40.442; -121.4084 (Dream Lake Dam)
Hot Springs Creek
McCormick-Saeltzer Dam 18 ft (5.5 m) 2000 Redding
40°29′36″N 122°28′16″W / 40.4932°N 122.471°W / 40.4932; -122.471 (McCormick-Saeltzer Dam)
Clear Creek
Hammer Diversion Dam 2014 Red Bluff
40°07′24″N 122°43′19″W / 40.1234°N 122.722°W / 40.1234; -122.722 (Hammer Diversion Dam)
South Fork Cottonwood Creek Domestic water and hydropower dam.
Percolation Dam 2009 Solano County
38°31′18″N 121°57′54″W / 38.5216°N 121.965°W / 38.5216; -121.965 (Percolation Dam)
Putah Creek Dam used to increase local groundwater elevations. Owned by the City of Winter.
Swim Dam #1 2001 Sunol
37°30′46″N 121°49′37″W / 37.5129°N 121.827°W / 37.5129; -121.827 (Swim Dam #1)
Alameda Creek San Francisco Bay
Swim Dam #2 2001 Sunol
37°30′39″N 121°49′34″W / 37.5109°N 121.826°W / 37.5109; -121.826 (Swim Dam #2)
Sunol Dam 2006 Sunol
37°35′40″N 121°54′07″W / 37.5944°N 121.902°W / 37.5944; -121.902 (Sunol Dam)
Niles Dam 2006 Union City
37°35′09″N 121°57′47″W / 37.5859°N 121.963°W / 37.5859; -121.963 (Niles Dam)
Bear Creek Dam #3 7 ft (2.1 m) 2012 Woodside
37°24′54″N 122°14′35″W / 37.4151°N 122.243°W / 37.4151; -122.243 (Bear Creek Dam #3)
Bear Creek
Columbine Dam 24 ft (7.3 m) 2021 Santa Clara
37°21′12″N 121°47′37″W / 37.3534°N 121.7935°W / 37.3534; -121.7935 (Columbine Dam)
Flint Creek Owned by the San Jose Water Company.
Bonde Weir 2.1 ft (0.64 m) 2013 Palo Alto
37°26′51″N 122°10′12″W / 37.4474°N 122.17°W / 37.4474; -122.17 (Bonde Weir)
San Francisquito Creek Erosion control dam.
Lagunita Diversion Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2018 Palo Alto
37°25′24″N 122°10′27″W / 37.4234°N 122.1742°W / 37.4234; -122.1742 (Lagunita Diversion Dam)
San Francisquito Creek Water storage dam owned by Stanford University.
Unnamed Small Dam #1 1998 Guadalupe River
Unnamed Small Dam #2 1998
Memorial Park Dam 2015 San Mateo County
37°16′26″N 122°17′19″W / 37.2739°N 122.2885°W / 37.2739; -122.2885 (Memorial Park Dam)
Pescadero Creek Pescadero Creek Owned by the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District.
Waterman Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2009 Boulder Creek
37°12′52″N 122°10′34″W / 37.2144°N 122.1761°W / 37.2144; -122.1761 (Waterman Dam)
Waterman Creek Mill dam.
Lower Mill Creek Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) 2021 Santa Cruz
37°02′33″N 122°10′07″W / 37.0426°N 122.1686°W / 37.0426; -122.1686 (Lower Mill Creek Dam)
Mill Creek San Vicente River Logging dam owned by the CEMEX Cement Plant.
Hall Wines Dam (Dry Creek Dam) 2008 Napa County
38°22′38″N 122°18′58″W / 38.3771°N 122.316°W / 38.3771; -122.316 (Hall Wines Dam (Dry Creek Dam))
Dry Creek Napa River Vineyard frost protection dam.
Milliken Creek Dam 13 ft (4.0 m) 2017 Napa County
38°20′56″N 122°15′49″W / 38.349°N 122.2635°W / 38.349; -122.2635 (Milliken Creek Dam)
Milliken Creek Golf course irrigation dam.
York Creek Diversion Structure 2004 St. Helena
38°30′34″N 122°29′46″W / 38.5095°N 122.496°W / 38.5095; -122.496 (York Creek Diversion Structure)
York Creek
York Dam 24 ft (7.3 m) 2020 St. Helena
38°30′32″N 122°29′46″W / 38.509°N 122.496°W / 38.509; -122.496 (York Dam)
Water storage dam owned by the City of St. Helena.
Maria Ygnacio Debris Basin Dam East Branch 20 ft (6.1 m) 2019 Santa Barbara County
34°27′38″N 119°47′28″W / 34.4606°N 119.7912°W / 34.4606; -119.7912 (Maria Ygnacio Debris Basin Dam East Branch)
East Branch Maria Ygnacio Creek Atascadero Creek Debris retention basin owned by the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District.
Maria Ygnacio Aijian Barrier 5 ft (1.5 m) 2014 Santa Barbara
34°27′59″N 119°47′39″W / 34.4664°N 119.7943°W / 34.4664; -119.7943 (Maria Ygnacio Aijian Barrier)
Maria Ygnacio Creek
Maria Ygnacio Debris Basin Dam Main Branch 20 ft (6.1 m) 2019 Santa Barbara County
34°28′31″N 119°47′31″W / 34.4752°N 119.7919°W / 34.4752; -119.7919 (Maria Ygnacio Debris Basin Dam Main Branch)
Debris retention basin owned by the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District.
Lion Creek Diversion Dam 3 ft (0.91 m) 2014 Ojai
34°32′40″N 119°09′50″W / 34.5444°N 119.164°W / 34.5444; -119.164 (Lion Creek Diversion Dam)
Lion Creek Santa Clara River Water supply dam for the Middle Lion Creek Campground.
Horse Creek Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2006 Los Padres National Forest
34°50′15″N 120°01′01″W / 34.8376°N 120.017°W / 34.8376; -120.017 (Horse Creek Dam)
Horse Creek Santa Maria River
Rodeo Grounds Berm 12 to 18 ft (3.7 to 5.5 m) 2008 Los Angeles County
34°02′31″N 118°34′47″W / 34.0419°N 118.5796°W / 34.0419; -118.5796 (Rodeo Grounds Berm)
Topanga Creek Santa Monica Bay
Trout Haven Dam Six Rivers National Forest
41°53′26″N 123°48′54″W / 41.8905°N 123.815°W / 41.8905; -123.815 (Trout Haven Dam)
Monkey Creek Smith River
Benbow Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 2016 Eureka
40°04′00″N 123°47′46″W / 40.0666°N 123.7961°W / 40.0666; -123.7961 (Benbow Dam)
South Fork Eel River Eel River Owned by California State Parks.
Cedar Creek Hatchery Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 2022 Leggett
39°50′23″N 123°42′27″W / 39.8398°N 123.7075°W / 39.8398; -123.7075 (Cedar Creek Hatchery Dam)
Cedar Creek
Salt Creek Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) Mendocino National Forest
39°17′35″N 122°47′42″W / 39.2931°N 122.795°W / 39.2931; -122.795 (Salt Creek Dam)
Salt Creek
Bear Valley Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) 1982 Point Reyes National Seashore
37°59′36″N 122°48′50″W / 37.9933°N 122.814°W / 37.9933; -122.814 (Bear Valley Dam)
Drakes Bay
Lower Murphy Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) Inverness
38°04′10″N 122°55′05″W / 38.0694°N 122.918°W / 38.0694; -122.918 (Lower Murphy Dam)
Home Bay
Upper Murphy Dam 25 ft (7.6 m) Point Reyes National Seashore
38°05′07″N 122°54′14″W / 38.0853°N 122.904°W / 38.0853; -122.904 (Upper Murphy Dam)
Home Ranch Creek
Haypress Pond Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 2003 Golden Gate National Recreation Area
37°51′46″N 122°32′49″W / 37.8629°N 122.547°W / 37.8629; -122.547 (Haypress Pond Dam)
Tributary to Tennessee Valley Tennessee Cove Water supply dam for grazing stock.
Copco Number 2 Dam 33 ft (10 m)[6] 2023 Siskiyou County
41°58′44″N 122°20′24″W / 41.9789°N 122.3400°W / 41.9789; -122.3400 (Copco Number 2 Dam)
Klamath River Klamath River After more than 20 years of advocacy from the Un-Dam the Klamath movement, the first of the four dams on the Lower Klamath River was removed in fall 2023.[7]
East Weaver Creek Dam[5] 12 ft (3.7 m) 2023 Weaverville
40°46′37″N 122°55′47″W / 40.777°N 122.9298°W / 40.777; -122.9298 (East Weaver Creek Dam)
East Weaver Creek Water supply dam owned by the Weaverville Community Services District.
Hostler Creek Dam 14 ft (4.3 m) 2012 Hoopa
41°04′43″N 123°40′05″W / 41.0787°N 123.668°W / 41.0787; -123.668 (Hostler Creek Dam)
Hostler Creek Owned by the Hoopa Tribe.
Minnie Reeves Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 2002 Douglas City
40°38′17″N 122°54′29″W / 40.6381°N 122.908°W / 40.6381; -122.908 (Minnie Reeves Dam)
Indian Creek
Little Shasta River Flashboard Dam 2019 Siskiyou County Little Shasta River Irrigation dam.
Araujo Dam 2007 Siskiyou County
41°41′15″N 122°31′48″W / 41.6876°N 122.53°W / 41.6876; -122.53 (Araujo Dam)
Shasta River Flashboard diversion dam installed every summer.
Grenada Irrigation District Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2012 Siskiyou County
41°43′37″N 122°33′27″W / 41.727°N 122.5575°W / 41.727; -122.5575 (Grenada Irrigation District Dam)
Irrigation dam.
Quinn Dam 14 ft (4.3 m) 1951 East Fork North Fork Trinity River
Lone Jack Dam 24 ft (7.3 m)
Todd Dam 14 ft (4.3 m) 1949
Trinity Cty. Water & Power Co. Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1946 East Fork Trinity River
North Fork Placers Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) 1950 North Fork Trinity River
Whites Gulch Upper Dam 2008 Etna
41°16′54″N 123°04′33″W / 41.2818°N 123.0757°W / 41.2818; -123.0757 (Whites Gulch Upper Dam)
Whites Gulch
White Gulch Dam #1 (Whites Gulch Lower Dam) 2008 Siskiyou County
41°17′27″N 123°04′59″W / 41.2909°N 123.083°W / 41.2909; -123.083 (White Gulch Dam #1 (Whites Gulch Lower Dam))
2 diversion dams.
Smith Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 1949
Bonally Mining Co. Dam 11 ft (3.4 m) 1946 North Fork Salmon River
Bennett-Smith Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1950 South Fork Salmon River
Barton Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 1950 South Fork Scott River
Rooney Bros Dam 2008 Sacramento County
38°21′30″N 121°20′35″W / 38.3582°N 121.343°W / 38.3582; -121.343 (Rooney Bros Dam)
Cosumnes River Mokelumne River
Murphy Creek Dam (Sparrow Dam) 12 ft (3.7 m) 2003 Clements
38°14′02″N 121°01′35″W / 38.234°N 121.0264°W / 38.234; -121.0264 (Murphy Creek Dam (Sparrow Dam))
Murphy Creek
East Panther Creek Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2016 Amador County
38°29′24″N 120°23′51″W / 38.49°N 120.3975°W / 38.49; -120.3975 (East Panther Creek Dam)
East Panther Creek Owned by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
West Panther Creek Dam 14 ft (4.3 m) 2003 Amador County
38°29′34″N 120°23′36″W / 38.4929°N 120.3933°W / 38.4929; -120.3933 (West Panther Creek Dam)
West Panther Creek
Camp Nine Dam 2012 Vallecito
38°08′09″N 120°22′37″W / 38.1358°N 120.377°W / 38.1358; -120.377 (Camp Nine Dam)
Stanislaus River San Joaquin River
Cascade Diversion Dam 18 ft (5.5 m) 2003 El Portal
37°43′06″N 119°40′55″W / 37.7183°N 119.682°W / 37.7183; -119.682 (Cascade Diversion Dam)
Merced River
Dennett Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2018 Modesto
37°37′38″N 120°59′16″W / 37.6273°N 120.9878°W / 37.6273; -120.9878 (Dennett Dam)
Tuolumne River Dam built for recreation.
Ojai Valley Trail Ford 2011 Oak View
34°22′47″N 119°18′25″W / 34.3798°N 119.307°W / 34.3798; -119.307 (Ojai Valley Trail Ford)
San Antonio Creek Ventura River
Arco Pond Dam 10 ft (3.0 m)
Happy Isles Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 1987
C-Lind Dam #1 56 ft (17 m) 1993
Three C. Picket Dam 1949 Beaver Creek
Big Creek Manufacturing Dam 14 ft (4.3 m) Big Creek
A-Frame Dam 30 ft (9.1 m) 2003 Brandy Creek
Point Four Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 1993 Butte Creek
Henry Danninbrink Dam 1927 Canyon Creek
Red Hill Mining Do. Dam 30 ft (9.1 m) 1951 Canyon Creek
Lake Christopher Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1994 Cold Creek
Unnamed dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2002 Ferrari Creek
Russell Dam (Hinkley Dam) 11 ft (3.4 m) 1922 Hayfork Creek
Hessellwood Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1925 Hayfork Creek
Big Nugget Mine Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 1949 Horse Creek
D.B. Fields Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 1947 Indian Creek
Altoona Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 1947 Kidder Creek
Clarissa V. Mining Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 1950 Redding Creek
Anderline Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 1936 Rush Creek
Unnamed Arizona Crossing 2002 Solstice Creek
Moser Dam 1949 Swillup Creek
Unnamed dam 2006 Ward Creek
Unnamed dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 1992 Wildcat Creek
Unnamed dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 1992

Planned and proposed removals

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Dam Height Expected year Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Copco Number 1 Dam 132 ft (40 m) 2024 Siskiyou County
41°58′48″N 122°20′04″W / 41.98000°N 122.33444°W / 41.98000; -122.33444 (Copco Number 1 Dam)
Klamath River Klamath River After more than 20 years of advocacy from the Un-Dam the Klamath movement, three dams on the Klamath River in California are expected to be removed by November 2024.[8] Two remain as of November 2023.[7]
Iron Gate Dam 173 ft (53 m) Siskiyou County
41°56′02″N 122°26′07″W / 41.93389°N 122.43528°W / 41.93389; -122.43528 (Iron Gate Dam)
Matilija Dam 198 ft (60 m) Ojai
34°29′06″N 119°18′30″W / 34.4850°N 119.3082°W / 34.4850; -119.3082 (Matilija Dam)
Matilija Creek Ventura River
Rindge Dam 100 ft (30 m) 2025–2035 Malibu Creek State Park
34°03′53″N 118°41′57″W / 34.0646°N 118.6993°W / 34.0646; -118.6993 (Rindge Dam)
Malibu Creek Santa Monica Bay
Scott Dam 138 ft (42 m) 2028 or later Lake County
39°24′27″N 122°57′33″W / 39.4075°N 122.9592°W / 39.4075; -122.9592 (Scott Dam)
Eel River Eel River The Pacific Gas and Electric Company has operated two hydroelectric dams on the Eel River as part of the Potter Valley Project. In 2023 the company applied to demolish the dams amid growing issues with maintenance, environmental compliance, and seismic liability. The project would drain Lake Pillsbury, make the Eel the longest free-flowing river in California, and restore hundreds of miles of habitat for endangered fish.[9]
Cape Horn Dam 63 ft (19 m) Mendocino County
39°23′10″N 123°07′00″W / 39.3862°N 123.1166°W / 39.3862; -123.1166 (Cape Horn Dam)

References

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  1. ^ Rivers, American (13 February 2023). "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v10. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Trabuco District Dam Removal Project". www.fs.usda.gov. Cleveland National Forest. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. ^ Hacker, Allison (9 September 2019). "A Programmatic Approach to Dam Removal and River Restoration: Cleveland National Forest, CA". American Rivers. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Carmel River diverted to demolish San Clemente Dam". SFGate. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  5. ^ a b Rivers, American (12 February 2024). "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v11. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Klamath Dam Removal: Copco 2 History & Updates". Native Fish Society. November 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Work on Copco No. 2 Dam Removal Comes to a Close". Klamath River Renewal. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  8. ^ Flaccus, Gillian (26 February 2022). "Major hurdle cleared in plan to demolish 4 Klamath River dams". opb. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ^ Greenson, Thadeus (23 November 2023). "PG&E Moves Forward with Eel River Dam Removal". North Coast Journal. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
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