Crystal Lake dam
Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake, located in Cameron Park, California, is a privately owned reservoir with a primary purpose of water supply. Completed in 1952, this earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet, with a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a length of 700 feet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 225 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 12 acres, drawing water from Tr Deer Creek for irrigation, recreation, and water supply.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Crystal Lake is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam has a high hazard potential but was found to be in satisfactory condition during its last assessment in September 2017. Regular inspections and emergency action plans are in place to mitigate risks and respond to any potential threats, with the most recent inspection conducted in January 2021.
As a vital water resource in El Dorado County, Crystal Lake serves as a critical component of the local water supply infrastructure. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate sustainability will find interest in the dam's operational details, maintenance practices, and the collaborative efforts between private ownership and state regulatory agencies to ensure the safe and efficient operation of this essential reservoir.
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 Crystal Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 253 cfs | → |
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 2,930 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 515 cfs | → |
| Arcade C Nr Del Paso Heights Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crystal 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
Paddle runs
- Coloma To Greenwood - (C To G)
- The Gorge
- Chili Bar
- South Fork American River
- Sunrise Avenue To Watt Avenue
- Greenwood To Mammoth Bar
More reservoirs
Track Crystal 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 Crystal Lake
Where does the data for Crystal 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 Crystal Lake.