Hell Hole (Pcwa) reservoir
Hell Hole (Pcwa)
Hell Hole Reservoir is a man-made lake in California that was created in 1966 by the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) for hydroelectric power and water supply. The reservoir is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is fed by the Rubicon River and several other small streams. The area is known for its heavy snowpack in the winter months, which provides the majority of the reservoir's water. The Hell Hole Reservoir also serves as a popular recreational destination for fishing, boating, and camping. Additionally, the water from the reservoir is used for agricultural purposes and for domestic use in nearby communities. However, in recent years, the reservoir has experienced lower water levels due to drought conditions, causing concerns about water supply and potential impacts on recreational activities.
Daily levels at Hell Hole (Pcwa)
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 Hell Hole (Pcwa) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwood C Nr Tahoe City Ca | 87 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Ward C At Hwy 89 Nr Tahoe Pines Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| General C Nr Meeks Bay Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Truckee R A Tahoe City Ca | 352 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hell Hole (Pcwa).
Boat launches
- Mosquito Ridge Rd, California
- Ice House Road El Dorado County
- Dry Lakes Trail El Dorado County
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Hell Hole
- Hell Hole Campground
- Big Meadows Campground
- Upper Hell Hole Campground
- Middle Meadows Group Campground
- French Meadows Campground
Fishing spots
- French Meadows Reservoir
- Loon Lake
- Buck Island Lake
- Union Valley Reservoir
- Stumpy Meadows Lake
- Maude Lake
Track Hell Hole (Pcwa) 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 Hell Hole (Pcwa)
Where does the data for Hell Hole (Pcwa) 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 Hell Hole (Pcwa).