Donner Lake reservoir
Donner Lake
Donner Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, USA. The lake was named after the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who became stranded in the area during the winter of 1846-47. The hydrology of the lake is primarily fed by the Donner Creek, which flows into the Truckee River. Snowmelt from the surrounding mountains also contributes to the lake's water supply. Donner Lake is known for its clear, blue waters and recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and camping. The lake has been used for irrigation in the past, but it is primarily a recreational destination for tourists and locals alike. The snowpack surrounding the lake is essential to the water supply in the region, and the lake plays a critical role in the hydrology of the Truckee River watershed.
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 Donner Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 101 cfs | → |
| Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca | 576 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 14 cfs | → |
| Prosser C Bl Prosser C Dam Nr Truckee Ca | 71 cfs | → |
| Truckee R Bl Martis C Nr Truckee Ca | 735 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donner Lake.
Boat launches
- Prosser Lake Reservoir
- Capt Roberts Boating Site
- Mosquito Ridge Rd, California
- Lakeshore Boulevard , 89452 Nevada
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
Campgrounds
- Donner Memorial State Park
- Goose Meadow
- Goose Meadow Campground
- Donner Campground
- Prosser Campground
- Prosser Family Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
- Headwaters Se 1/4 Of Sec 10, T18, R15e To Stampede Reservoir
- Tahoe City To River Ranch
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Headwaters To Trailhead
- Hell Hole Dam To Ellicotts Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Donner 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 Donner Lake
Where does the data for Donner 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 Donner Lake.