Echo Lake reservoir
Echo Lake
Echo Lake is a small alpine lake located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The lake has a long history of recreational use, with the Echo Chalet resort opening in the early 1900s. The lake serves as an important source of water for the surrounding areas, with its hydrology primarily fed by surface flow and snowpack melt. The Upper American River Project manages the reservoir and dam, which provides hydroelectric power to the area. The lake also serves as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with activities such as fishing, camping, and hiking available. The surrounding forests are home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, coyotes, and mule deer. Agriculture in the area includes small-scale farming and ranching, while the lake also supports recreational activities such as swimming and boating.
Daily levels at Echo Lake
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
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 Echo Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca | 46 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Up Truckee R A South Lake Tahoe Ca | 17 cfs | → |
| Trout C Nr Tahoe Valley Ca | 37 cfs | → |
| Eagle Rock Ck Nr Stateline | 1 cfs | → |
| Edgewood Ck At Stateline | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Echo Lake.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Echo Lake
Where does the data for Echo Lake come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard 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 below 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 reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.