Pardee dam
Pardee
Pardee Dam, located in Calaveras County, California, is a concrete gravity dam completed in 1929 with a height of 351.5 feet and a length of 1337 feet. Managed by a public utility, the dam primarily serves as a water supply source, with a storage capacity of 198,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 2200 acres. Situated on the Mokelumne River, the dam's purpose also includes fish and wildlife pond management, hydroelectric power generation, and recreational activities.
Regulated by state and federal agencies, including the Department of Water Resources and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Pardee Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with safety regulations. With a high hazard potential due to its size and location, the dam is monitored closely to mitigate risks and implement emergency preparedness measures. Despite its age, Pardee Dam continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
In addition to providing essential water supply services, Pardee Dam contributes to the conservation of fish and wildlife habitats, supports recreational activities, and generates hydroelectric power for the surrounding communities. With its strategic location on the Mokelumne River and robust regulatory oversight, Pardee Dam stands as a critical infrastructure asset in California's water resource management network, highlighting the intersection of water supply, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship in the region.
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 Pardee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 271 cfs | → |
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Laguna C Nr Elk Grove Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 3,300 cfs | → |
| Georgiana Slough Nr Sacramento R | 2,990 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pardee .
Campgrounds
- Oak Knoll - New Hogan Lake
- Acorn - New Hogan Lake
- Acorn Campground
- Gold Strike Village Campers
- Rancho Seco Rec Area
- Indian Grinding Rock State Park
Fishing spots
Track Pardee 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 Pardee
Where does the data for Pardee 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 Pardee .