Frenchman Dam reservoir
Frenchman Dam
Frenchman Dam is a concrete gravity-type dam located on Frenchman Lake in Plumas County, California. Its operation is managed by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The dam was constructed in 1960 as part of the Feather River Project, which aimed to provide hydroelectric power and irrigation water to the Sacramento Valley. The reservoir created by the dam has a capacity of 150,000 acre-feet and receives water from various sources, including surface flow from the Little Last Chance Creek and snowpack runoff from the surrounding mountains. The water stored in Frenchman Lake is used for both agricultural and recreational purposes, including irrigation, fishing, boating, and camping.
Daily levels at Frenchman Dam
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
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 Frenchman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Creek At Verdi | 2 cfs | → |
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Truckee River Nr Mogul | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Hunter C Nr Reno | 11 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frenchman Dam.
Boat launches
- Capt Roberts Boating Site
- Salmon Lake -Boat Ramp Boating Site
- Salmon Lake Road 1500, Sierra City
- Sardine Lake Road 990, Sierra City
- Lost Cove Boat Ramp
- Pyramid Lake Road Washoe County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Frenchman Reservoir To Nf Boundary
- Sec 17, T25n, R14e To Confluence With Last Chance Creek
- Confluence With Squaw Queen Creek To Confluence With Red Clover Creek
- Gold Lake Highway To Nf Boundary
- Falls To Gold Lake Highway
- State Park To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
More reservoirs
Track Frenchman Dam 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 Frenchman Dam
Where does the data for Frenchman Dam 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 Frenchman Dam.