Lower Peak Lake Main dam
Lower Peak Lake Main
Lower Peak Lake Main, also known as Cascade Lakes, is a privately-owned hydroelectric dam located in Placer County, California. This earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and was completed in 1860, showcasing its historical significance in water resource management. With a storage capacity of 484 acre-feet and a surface area of 33.3 acres, Lower Peak Lake Main serves as a vital component in the regional water infrastructure, regulating the flow of the South Yuba River tributary.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Lower Peak Lake Main is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and operational safety. Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, the dam poses a high risk due to its age and lack of detailed condition assessment. In case of emergencies, the dam operators are required to have an Emergency Action Plan in place, although details on its preparation and compliance with guidelines are currently unavailable.
With its picturesque location in Washington, California, Lower Peak Lake Main stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and historical engineering achievements. As climate change continues to impact water availability and infrastructure resilience, the importance of maintaining and updating structures like Lower Peak Lake Main becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable water management 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 Lower Peak Lake Main -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 28 cfs | → |
| Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca | 278 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Peak Lake Main .
Boat launches
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Mosquito Ridge Rd, California
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
Campgrounds
- Cold Springs Campground
- Muninnvagl
- Hampshire Rocks
- Hampshire Rocks Campground
- Loch Leven Lakes Dispersed Camping
- Big Bend Group Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- Hell Hole Dam To Ellicotts Bridge
- Headwaters Se 1/4 Of Sec 10, T18, R15e To Stampede Reservoir
- Tahoe City To River Ranch
Track Lower Peak Lake Main 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 Lower Peak Lake Main
Where does the data for Lower Peak Lake Main 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 Lower Peak Lake Main .