Lake Aloha Main dam
Lake Aloha Main
Lake Aloha Main, also known as Medley Lakes Main, is a privately owned dam located in El Dorado County, California, near South Lake Tahoe. Built in 1917, this masonry dam stands at a height of 32 feet and serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. With a storage capacity of 5063 acre-feet and a surface area of 630 acres, the dam is situated on the South Fork American River with a drainage area of 3.4 square miles.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Lake Aloha Main has a high hazard potential and is regulated by the state of California. The dam does not have a spillway and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and integrity. Although its condition assessment is currently unavailable, the dam is deemed to have a high risk factor (2) according to the risk assessment conducted.
Overall, Lake Aloha Main is a significant structure in the region, contributing to water resource management and energy production. As an enthusiast of water resources and climate, exploring the history and operational aspects of this dam can provide valuable insight into the complex interplay between infrastructure, natural resources, and regulatory frameworks.
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 Lake Aloha Main -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca | 216 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Up Truckee R A South Lake Tahoe Ca | 213 cfs | → |
| Trout C Nr Tahoe Valley Ca | 52 cfs | → |
| Edgewood Ck At Stateline | 2 cfs | → |
| Eagle Rock Ck Nr Stateline | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Aloha Main.
Boat launches
- Ice House Road El Dorado County
- Amador County
- Dry Lakes Trail El Dorado County
- Cave Rock Boat Launch Douglas County
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Indian Creek Camp Ground Day Use Area
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 1/4 Mile North Of State Highway 50 To Avalanche Lake
- State Highway 50 To 1/4 Mile North Of State Highway 50
- Headwaters In Sec 7, T11n, R18e To Blair Bridge
- Headwaters To South Of Upper Truckee Road (Sec Line Between 17/20 Intercepts River And Unnamed Tributary)
- Headwaters In Sec 15,T10n, R17e To Confluence With Silver Fork Of American River
- Headwatersa In Sec 18, T9n, R16e To Confluence With Van Horn Creek
Track Lake Aloha 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 Lake Aloha Main
Where does the data for Lake Aloha 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 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 Lake Aloha Main.