Bowman Lake reservoir
Bowman Lake
Bowman Lake is a man-made reservoir located in Nevada and Placer counties in California. It was constructed in 1929 as part of the Bowman Dam Project, which aimed to provide hydroelectric power to the surrounding areas. The lake is fed by the Bear River and other smaller streams, and its hydrology is closely tied to the region's snowpack, which is a crucial source of water for the reservoir. The lake is also used for agricultural irrigation and recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. The surrounding area is known for its scenic beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation, and the lake is a popular destination for visitors seeking to escape the city and enjoy the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Daily levels at Bowman Lake
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Bowman Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 663 cfs | → |
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 14 cfs | → |
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 101 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bowman Lake.
Boat launches
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Sardine Lake Road 990, Sierra City
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek To Confluence With Jefferson Creek
- Gold Lake Dam To Falls
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Headwaters Of East Fork Canyon Creek (Sec 13, T21n, R10e) To Confluence With South Fork Canyon Creek
- Little Jamison Creek Headwaters To State Park
Track Bowman Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this reservoir as a favorite and set push alerts when storage crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 80% of normal").
About Bowman Lake
Where does the data for Bowman Lake come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Bowman Lake.