Gerle Creek dam
Gerle Creek
Located in El Dorado County, California, Gerle Creek is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 65 feet and a hydraulic height of 64 feet. Completed in 1962, this hydroelectric dam serves as a vital source of water storage with a capacity of 831 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is for hydroelectric generation, as well as providing recreational opportunities for visitors.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Gerle Creek Dam is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and operational efficiency. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, the dam remains a crucial infrastructure for water resource management in the region. The dam's spillway, with a width of 180 feet, helps control water discharge during peak flow events, contributing to the overall flood control measures in the area.
Surrounded by the picturesque landscape of Coloma, Gerle Creek Dam not only plays a key role in water resource management but also offers a scenic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The dam's proximity to the Gerle Creek River provides ample opportunities for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. With its rich history and ongoing commitment to safety and sustainability, Gerle Creek Dam remains a significant landmark for both water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Gerle Creek -- 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 | → |
| Blackwood C Nr Tahoe City Ca | 87 cfs | → |
| General C Nr Meeks Bay Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Ward C At Hwy 89 Nr Tahoe Pines Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| Truckee R A Tahoe City Ca | 352 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gerle Creek .
Boat launches
- Dry Lakes Trail El Dorado County
- Ice House Road El Dorado County
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Mosquito Ridge Rd, California
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
- Forebay Road El Dorado County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Loon Lake
- Union Valley Reservoir
- Buck Island Lake
- Ice House Reservoir
- French Meadows Reservoir
- Maude Lake
Track Gerle Creek 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 Gerle Creek
Where does the data for Gerle Creek 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 Gerle Creek .