El Dorado Forebay dam
El Dorado Forebay
El Dorado Forebay in California serves as a vital water resource and hydroelectric power generator along the North Fork Long Canyon. This private dam, completed in 1923, stands at a height of 91 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 356 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation, it also serves for debris control and irrigation in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, El Dorado Forebay is a state-regulated and inspected structure ensuring safety and compliance with regulations. The dam's spillway, an uncontrolled type, has a width of 20 feet to manage up to 580 cubic feet per second of water discharge during peak flows. Despite its high hazard potential, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with regular inspections and emergency action plans in place to mitigate any potential risks.
Located in El Dorado County, this historic dam plays a crucial role in water management and power generation in the region. Its significance lies in providing a sustainable source of energy and supporting irrigation activities, all while adhering to strict regulatory standards and safety measures to ensure the protection of surrounding communities and the 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 El Dorado Forebay -- 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 | 732 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca | 188 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Dorado Forebay .
Boat launches
- Forebay Road El Dorado County
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
- Sly Park Road, Pollock Pines
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Rock Creek Road El Dorado County
- Dry Lakes Trail El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Sly Park
- Pine Cone - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Hazel Creek - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Deerwood - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Rainbow - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Kane Xxx - Sly Park Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cosumnes Mine Road To Confluence With Steely Fork Cosumnes River
- Confluence With Van Horn Creek To Cosumnes Mine Road
- Big Grizzly Canyon To Oxbow Reservoir
- Confluence With Dogtown Creek To West Nf Boundary
- South Fork American River
- Chili Bar
More reservoirs
Track El Dorado Forebay 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 El Dorado Forebay
Where does the data for El Dorado Forebay 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 El Dorado Forebay .