Lost Lake East dam
Lost Lake East
Lost Lake East is a vital water resource located in Alpine County, California, serving as a public utility for the surrounding area of Mesa Vista. This earth dam was completed in 1925, standing at a height of 15 feet and with a storage capacity of 230 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, supporting irrigation and other water supply needs in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Lost Lake East is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safe operation. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam undergoes regular inspections to maintain its reliability and safety. The dam stands on Lost Creek, with a drainage area of 0.1 square miles and a surface area of 20 acres.
Lost Lake East not only provides essential water supply but also contributes to the overall climate resilience of the region. With its historical significance dating back to the early 20th century, the dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and environmental conservation efforts in Alpine County. Its location within the San Francisco District and its designation as a public utility underscore its importance in sustaining the local ecosystem and meeting the water needs of the community.
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 Lost Lake East -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Carson River At Woodfords | 237 cfs | → |
| E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca | 978 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca | 188 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Channel Underdrain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| 4l C Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lost Lake East.
Boat launches
- Amador County
- Summit Lake Trail Alpine County
- Indian Creek Camp Ground Day Use Area
- Topaz Park Road Douglas County
- Cave Rock Boat Launch Douglas County
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Lost Campings
- Upper Blue Lake
- Upper Blue Lake Dam
- Middle Creek/Expansion
- Lower Blue Lake
- Lower Blue Lake Campgroung (Pg&E)
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sec 2, T9n, R18e To Confluence With Mokelumne River
- Headwaters In Sec 15,T10n, R17e To Confluence With Silver Fork Of American River
- Highway 4 To Salt Springs Reservoir
- Centerville Flat To Hangman's Bridge
- Headwaters To South Of Upper Truckee Road (Sec Line Between 17/20 Intercepts River And Unnamed Tributary)
- Headwaters In Sec 7, T11n, R18e To Blair Bridge
Track Lost Lake East 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 Lost Lake East
Where does the data for Lost Lake East 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 Lost Lake East.