Manhattan Creek dam
Manhattan Creek
Manhattan Creek, located in Garden Valley, El Dorado County, California, is a privately owned dam that serves as a crucial water supply source. Built in 1952, this earth dam stands at 32 feet high with a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is for irrigation, recreation, and water supply, making it a vital resource for the surrounding community.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Manhattan Creek has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition according to a 2017 assessment. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its age, Manhattan Creek continues to provide essential water resources to the area, demonstrating its importance in water management and climate resilience efforts.
With a drainage area of 1.33 square miles and a surface area of 10 acres, Manhattan Creek plays a significant role in managing water flow and storage in the region. Its location within the San Francisco District and under the jurisdiction of the state of California highlights its importance in the larger water management system. As climate change impacts water resources, dams like Manhattan Creek become increasingly vital for ensuring water security and sustainability in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Manhattan Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 732 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 3,630 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Manhattan Creek.
Boat launches
- River Trail El Dorado County
- Rock Creek Road El Dorado County
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Rattlesnake Road Placer County
- Forebay Road El Dorado County
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Georgetown Airport Campground
- Mother Lode River Center
- Dru Barner
- Dru Barner Campground
- Finnon Lake
- Rucky A Chucky - Auburn State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Lake Clementine
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
- Folsom Lake
- Lake Combie
- Stumpy Meadows Lake
- Lake Of The Pines
Paddle runs
- Coloma To Greenwood - (C To G)
- The Gorge
- South Fork American River
- Chili Bar
- Greenwood To Mammoth Bar
- Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse To Greenwood)
More reservoirs
Track Manhattan 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 Manhattan Creek
Where does the data for Manhattan 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 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 Manhattan Creek.