Kidd Lake Main dam
Kidd Lake Main
Kidd Lake Main, located in Placer, California, is a privately owned hydroelectric dam on the South Yuba River. Constructed in 1850, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 1505 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 1520 acre-feet and a surface area of 86 acres, Kidd Lake Main serves as a vital water resource in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Kidd Lake Main has a significant hazard potential and is subject to regular state inspections and enforcement. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1000 cubic feet per second. The risk assessment for this dam is moderate, with a moderate risk management rating given.
Despite its age, Kidd Lake Main continues to play a crucial role in providing hydroelectric power while also serving as a water storage facility for the surrounding area. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam remains a key component of the water resource infrastructure in Placer, California.
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 Kidd Lake Main -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca | 438 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kidd Lake Main .
Boat launches
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Mosquito Ridge Rd, California
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
Campgrounds
- Muninnvagl
- Cold Springs Campground
- Hampshire Rocks
- Hampshire Rocks Campground
- Loch Leven Lakes Dispersed Camping
- Sterling Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- Headwaters Se 1/4 Of Sec 10, T18, R15e To Stampede Reservoir
- Hell Hole Dam To Ellicotts Bridge
- Tahoe City To River Ranch
Track Kidd Lake Main 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 Kidd Lake Main
Where does the data for Kidd Lake Main 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 Significant 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 Kidd Lake Main .