Abrams dam
Abrams
Abrams is a privately owned dam in Coloma, California, built in 1950 for water supply purposes, specifically irrigation and water supply. Situated on Hastings Creek in El Dorado County, this Earth-type dam stands at 37 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 27.5 feet, providing a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as per a 2017 assessment.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Abrams is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities. It falls under the jurisdiction of the DWR and is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in December 2019. The dam has a spillway type and width unspecified, and no outlet gates, locks, or associated structures, making it a relatively simple yet vital component in the local water resource management system.
Located within the San Francisco District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Abrams plays a crucial role in maintaining water supply for agricultural and domestic use in the region. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose effectively, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change challenges.
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 Abrams -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 732 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 3,630 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Abrams.
Boat launches
- River Trail El Dorado County
- Rattlesnake Road Placer County
- Oak Hill Road 7935, Pilot Hill
- Oaks Nature Trail El Dorado County
- Rock Creek Road El Dorado County
- Green Valley Road 661, El Dorado Hills
Campgrounds
- Mother Lode River Center
- Peninsula - Folsom Lake State Rec Area
- Georgetown Airport Campground
- Rucky A Chucky - Auburn State Rec Area
- Folsom Lake Peninsula Campground
- Koa Placerville
Fishing spots
- Lake Clementine
- Folsom Lake
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
- Lake Combie
- Lake Of The Pines
- Natoma Lake
Paddle runs
- The Gorge
- Coloma To Greenwood - (C To G)
- Greenwood To Mammoth Bar
- Chili Bar
- South Fork American River
- Yankee Jim Road To Ponderosa Way (Shirttail)
More reservoirs
Track Abrams 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 Abrams
Where does the data for Abrams 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 Abrams.