Fuller Lake dam
Fuller Lake
Located in California's Nevada County, Fuller Lake is a private hydroelectric dam with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1856. With a dam height of 39 feet and a hydraulic height of 35.7 feet, Fuller Lake serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. The dam has a storage capacity of 1,127 acre-feet and a surface area of 68.9 acres, providing essential water supply and flood control benefits.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Fuller Lake is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 15 feet to manage excess water flow. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is rated as moderate, emphasizing the importance of ongoing maintenance and monitoring. With a drainage area of 0.6 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 350 cubic feet per second, Fuller Lake plays a key role in water management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts are drawn to Fuller Lake not only for its historical significance but also for its vital role in supporting the local ecosystem and communities. As a regulated structure with state jurisdiction, the dam undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure safety and efficiency. With its scenic location in the picturesque city of Washington, Fuller Lake stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in managing water resources for a sustainable future.
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 Fuller Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 569 cfs | → |
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 23 cfs | → |
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 11 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 75 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fuller Lake .
Boat launches
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
- Iowa Hill Road Placer County
Campgrounds
- Fuller Lake
- Campsite - Metal Bench
- Donner Summit Area - Lake Spaulding
- Lake Spaulding
- Lake Spaulding Campground
- Bear Valley Group Area
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
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
- Interbay To Oxbow (End Of The World)
- Chamberlain Falls (Iowa Hill To Yankee Jim)
Track Fuller Lake 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 Fuller Lake
Where does the data for Fuller Lake 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 Fuller Lake .