Lake Theodore dam
Lake Theodore
Lake Theodore, located in Elders Corner, California, is a captivating water resource managed by the local government for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and water supply purposes. The dam, completed in 1896, stands at a height of 40 feet and holds a storage capacity of 207 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 0.7 square miles along the Sfk Dry Creek. With a surface area of 18 acres, Lake Theodore plays a crucial role in meeting the water needs of the surrounding community.
The dam at Lake Theodore is classified as an earth dam with a significant hydraulic height of 34.1 feet, presenting a high hazard potential. Despite this, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 deemed it satisfactory, ensuring its structural integrity and safety for continued operation. Regular inspections, with the last one conducted in January 2021, help monitor the dam's condition closely and maintain its safety standards in compliance with state regulations enforced by the Department of Water Resources.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the Placer County area would find Lake Theodore a fascinating site for its historical significance, environmental impact, and role in sustaining local water needs. As a key infrastructure for water management and energy production, Lake Theodore stands as a testament to the ingenuity of early engineering efforts and continues to play a vital role in the region's water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Lake Theodore -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 773 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 328 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 59 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Theodore.
Boat launches
- River Trail El Dorado County
- Rattlesnake Road Placer County
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Oak Hill Road 7935, Pilot Hill
- Oaks Nature Trail El Dorado County
- Iowa Hill Road Placer County
Campgrounds
- Rucky A Chucky - Auburn State Rec Area
- Bear River County Park
- Georgetown Airport Campground
- Mineral Bar - Auburn State Rec Area
- Mother Lode River Center
- Peninsula - Folsom Lake State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Lake Clementine
- Lake Combie
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
- Lake Of The Pines
- Lake Rollins
- Folsom Lake
Track Lake Theodore 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 Lake Theodore
Where does the data for Lake Theodore 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 High 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 Lake Theodore.