White Rock Lake dam
White Rock Lake
White Rock Lake, located in California's Nevada County, is a private hydroelectric dam with a rich history dating back to 1855. The dam stands at 13.5 feet tall and has a capacity of 850 acre-feet, providing power through its earth dam structure on White Rock Creek. With a surface area of 90 acres and a drainage area of 1.2 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, White Rock Lake has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment. Despite its age, the dam is regularly inspected and meets regulatory standards for state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and 40-foot spillway width ensure efficient water flow and safety measures in case of emergencies. With its location in the beautiful Hobart Hills and its vital role in hydroelectric power generation, White Rock Lake is a fascinating site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and learn about the intersection of infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
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 White Rock Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| 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 | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Rock Lake .
Boat launches
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
- Prosser Lake Reservoir
- Capt Roberts Boating Site
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
Campgrounds
- Paradise Lake
- Wooded Campsite (4 Tents)
- Granite Campsite (1-2 Tents)
- Hillside Campsite (2-3 Tents)
- Lakeside Balcony Campsite (1 Tent)
- First Campsite On The Left (3-4 Tents)
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Se 1/4 Of Sec 10, T18, R15e To Stampede Reservoir
- Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Tahoe City To River Ranch
- One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek To Confluence With Jefferson Creek
Track White Rock 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 White Rock Lake
Where does the data for White Rock 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 White Rock Lake .