SWEETWATER MAIN - CA00775-3507
Dam Name: SWEETWATER MAIN
State: CA
Downstream Hazard Potential: H
Incident Type: Failure
Incident Date: 01/30/1916
Incident Driver: Hydrologic/Flooding
Incident Mechanism 1: Overtopping
Incident Mechanism 2
Incident Mechanism 3
Incident IDCA00775-3507
Incident DescriptionBetween mid-January to Jan 30th more than 20 inches of rain fell. 10+ inches fell during the last week of January alone. Then, on January 30, 1916, Sweetwater Dam was overtopped by 3.5 feet when 45,000 cfs flowed into the reservoir. The hybrid earth embankments constructed after the 1895 flood to protect the abutments were washed out. Without the protection, the abutments breached. The North abutment breach was 90 feet long and 45 feet deep. The south abutment breah was 20 feet long and 40 feet deep.
Named Hydrologic Event
EAP Enacted (Y/N) due to Incident
Fatalities (Number)8
Number of People Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Flooded
Other Infrastructure ImpactsRailroads
Economic Damages (in $)$1 million to $5 million
Response
Volume released at failure (ac-ft)
Additional Remarks or Updates8 people were killed and $3M ($68M today) damage was caused downstream, especially to (Sweetwater Co.) pipelines, railway tracks and electric utility lines
Owner TypeU
Dam TypePG
Primary Purpose(s)ST
EAPY
Dam Height112 ft
Max Storage (ac-ft)27689.00
Surface Area (acres)936.00
Year Completed1888
NID NumberCA00775
River NameSWEETWATER RIVER
Latitude32.6921
Longitude-117.008
Year Modified
Regulatory Agency(ies)DWR, SAFETY OF DAMS
Incident Time
Incident Duration
Incident Report Produced
Information SourcesASDSO Decade Dam Failures
