Upper Sunset Lake dam
Upper Sunset Lake
Upper Sunset Lake in Markleeville, California, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1904 for water supply purposes, specifically for irrigation and water supply. The dam stands at a height of 22 feet with a hydraulic height of 18 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. Situated along the U Pleasant Vy Creek, the dam has a surface area of 27 acres and serves as a vital water resource in Alpine County.
Maintained by the California Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams division, Upper Sunset Lake has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in 2017. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a crucial role in water management in the region, with regular inspections ensuring its safety and functionality. The surrounding area offers a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to observe the intersection of human infrastructure and natural landscapes.
With its historical significance dating back over a century, Upper Sunset Lake serves as a testament to the importance of water conservation in California. The dam's strategic location and purposeful design contribute to its role in providing water for agricultural and domestic use in the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding and preserving structures like Upper Sunset Lake becomes increasingly essential for sustainable water management practices in the region.
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 Upper Sunset Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca | 978 cfs | → |
| West Fork Carson River At Woodfords | 237 cfs | → |
| Leviathan Mine Adit Drain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Channel Underdrain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Ab Mine Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| 4l C Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Sunset Lake.
Boat launches
- Summit Lake Trail Alpine County
- Indian Creek Camp Ground Day Use Area
- Amador County
- Topaz Park Road Douglas County
- Cave Rock Boat Launch Douglas County
Campgrounds
- Tributary Of Pleasant Valley Creek
- Lower Blue Lake
- Lower Blue Lake Campgroung (Pg&E)
- Middle Creek/Expansion
- Upper Blue Lake Dam
- Hermit Valley
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Highway 4 To Salt Springs Reservoir
- Headwaters In Sec 2, T9n, R18e To Confluence With Mokelumne River
- Centerville Flat To Hangman's Bridge
- Source Sec 24, T6n, R21e To Centerville Flat
- Headwaters In Sec 15,T10n, R17e To Confluence With Silver Fork Of American River
- Headwaters To South Of Upper Truckee Road (Sec Line Between 17/20 Intercepts River And Unnamed Tributary)
Track Upper Sunset 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 Upper Sunset Lake
Where does the data for Upper Sunset 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 Upper Sunset Lake.