New Bass Lake dam
New Bass Lake
New Bass Lake, located in El Dorado Hills, California, is a local government-owned reservoir with a primary purpose of water supply. Completed in 1978, this Earth type dam stands at 26 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 745 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 62 acres and is fed by Carson Creek, serving as a vital resource for irrigation, recreation, and water supply in the region.
Despite its age, New Bass Lake has a satisfactory condition assessment and a high hazard potential, requiring regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, with state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The last inspection in February 2021 deemed the dam to be in satisfactory condition, but its high hazard potential necessitates continued vigilance and risk management measures.
With its scenic location and importance as a water source for the community, New Bass Lake provides both recreational opportunities and essential water supply services. As a key infrastructure in the region, it underscores the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to safeguard against potential risks and ensure the continued safety and reliability of this critical water storage facility.
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 New Bass Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 2,410 cfs | → |
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 243 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 489 cfs | → |
| Arcade C Nr Del Paso Heights Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Bass Lake.
Boat launches
- Green Valley Road 661, El Dorado Hills
- Oaks Nature Trail El Dorado County
- Oak Hill Road 7935, Pilot Hill
- Park Road, Granite Bay
- Lake Natoma Northern Boat Ramp
- Willow Creek Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track New Bass 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 New Bass Lake
Where does the data for New Bass 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 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 New Bass Lake.