Blakely dam
Blakely
Blakely is a privately owned earth dam located in El Dorado, California, near the city of Five Mile Terrace. Completed in 1875, the dam serves as a vital water supply structure, standing at a height of 19 meters and boasting a storage capacity of 152 acre-feet. Situated on the Tr Sfk American River, the dam has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in fair condition as of the last assessment in July 2018.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Blakely is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a drainage area of 0.13 square kilometers and a surface area of 15 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in securing water resources for the region. Despite its age, Blakely continues to fulfill its primary purpose of supplying freshwater, highlighting the enduring importance of maintaining and monitoring our vital infrastructure in the face of changing climates and water resource challenges.
Although lacking specific spillway information, Blakely has been designed to withstand hydraulic pressures up to 13 meters, ensuring the safety and reliability of the structure. With a long history of service and ongoing regulatory oversight, Blakely exemplifies the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and dam safety in California. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of infrastructure like Blakely in securing our water supply and adaptability to a changing environment.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
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 Blakely -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 773 cfs | → |
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 358 cfs | → |
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 3,550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blakely.
Boat launches
- Forebay Road El Dorado County
- Rock Creek Road El Dorado County
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
- Sly Park Road, Pollock Pines
- River Trail El Dorado County
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Finnon Lake
- Sly Park
- Pine Cone - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Hazel Creek - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Rainbow - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Deerwood - Sly Park Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Stumpy Meadows Lake
- Union Valley Reservoir
- Ice House Reservoir
- Folsom Lake
- Lake Clementine
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
Track Blakely in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Blakely
Where does the data for Blakely come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low 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 dam, 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 Blakely.