Empire Weir No. 1

Sfk Kings River· Kings, California· Built 1906· Buttress· 18 ft tall
Low Hazard Other Irrigation Public Utility

Key Takeaway

Empire Weir No. 1 is classified as low hazard in California. It was completed in 1906 and is 120 years old. Its primary use is other.

Physical Details

Dam Height 18 ft (taller than 12.6% in CA)
Dam Length77 ft
Dam TypeButtress
Max Storage50 acre-ft
Surface Area16 acres
Year Completed1906 (120 years old)
NID IDCA00714

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: May 27, 2022
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: DWR, Division of Safety of Dams

Ownership

Empire Westside Irrigation District

Public Utility

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Empire Weir No. 1?

Empire Weir No. 1 is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Empire Weir No. 1?

Empire Weir No. 1 is owned by Empire Westside Irrigation District (Public Utility). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Empire Weir No. 1 built?

Empire Weir No. 1 was completed in 1906, making it 120 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Empire Weir No. 1?

Empire Weir No. 1 serves the following purposes: Other, Irrigation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Empire Weir No. 1?

Empire Weir No. 1 has a dam height of 18 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Empire Weir No. 1 last inspected?

Empire Weir No. 1 was last inspected on May 27, 2022. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.