| Salinas Dam | |
|---|---|
 Salinas Dam, taken facing North (Survey Number HAER CA-183). The intake pipes can be seen spilling excess water from the Santa Margarita Reservoir into the Salinas River. | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | San Luis Obispo County, California |
| Coordinates | 35°20′14″N 120°30′10″W / 35.3372°N 120.5027°W |
| Construction began | 1941 |
| Opening date | January 1942 |
| Owner(s) |  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Operator(s) | City of San Luis Obispo |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | concrete |
| Impounds | Salinas River |
| Height | 135 ft (41 m) |
| Length | 23,800 ft (7,300 m) |
| Dam volume | 12,033,000 cu yd (9,200,000 m3) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Santa Fe Flood Control Basin |
| Total capacity | 26,000 acre⋅ft (32,000 dam3) |
| Active capacity | 23,842.90 acre⋅ft (29,409.78 dam3) |
| Inactive capacity | 46,000 acre⋅ft (57,000 dam3) |
| Catchment area | 236 sq mi (610 km2) |
| Surface area | 1,000 acres (400 ha) |
| Normal elevation | 1,300.74 feet (396.47 m) |
The Salinas Dam is a dam built on the Salinas River in San Luis Obispo County, California.[1] Designed by Raymond A. Hill, the gravity dam features an arched design with an open spillway.[2] The War Department began construction on the dam in mid-1941, as World War II began to reach the Pacific.[2][3] The original intent of the dam was to supply water to Camp San Luis Obispo, which the Army was considering expanding to meet military needs. However, the camp’s wells ultimately provided sufficient water to the camp, and the reservoir water was never required or used by the military. Today, the dam operations are leased by the city of San Luis Obispo, to supply water to the city and surrounding agricultural areas.[4] The reservoir created by the dam is known as the Santa Margarita Lake, or Santa Margarita Reservoir.
- ^ "Salinas Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "1. CONTEXTUAL VIEW. CAMERA FACING SOUTHEAST. - Salinas Dam, Salinas River near Pozo Road, Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, CA". The Library of Congress. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "1966 Salinas Dam » Photos from the Vault". sloblogs.thetribunenews.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Salinas Reservoir | City of San Luis Obispo, CA". www.slocity.org. Retrieved May 3, 2018.