Caples Lake Auxiliary dam
Caples Lake Auxiliary
Caples Lake Auxiliary is a private hydroelectric dam located in Alpine County, California, near Kirkwood. The dam, completed in 1922, stands at a height of 33.5 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 22,338 acre-feet. With a surface area of 600 acres and a drainage area of 13.5 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing hydroelectric power to the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Caples Lake Auxiliary serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation and recreational activities. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway measuring 95 feet in width and has a maximum discharge capacity of 1,800 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate (3), indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
With its scenic location on Caples Creek and its vital role in water resource management and energy production, Caples Lake Auxiliary is a significant infrastructure project in California. The dam's presence highlights the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and regulatory oversight, making it a site of interest for enthusiasts interested in these interconnected fields.
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 Caples Lake Auxiliary -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca | 98 cfs | → |
| West Fork Carson River At Woodfords | 132 cfs | → |
| Up Truckee R A South Lake Tahoe Ca | 98 cfs | → |
| Trout C Nr Tahoe Valley Ca | 46 cfs | → |
| E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca | 514 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Caples Lake Auxiliary .
Boat launches
- Amador County
- Summit Lake Trail Alpine County
- Indian Creek Camp Ground Day Use Area
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Cave Rock Boat Launch Douglas County
- Ice House Road El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Caples Lake
- Caples Lake Campground
- Two Sentinels Girl Scout Camp
- Kirkwood Lake
- Kirkwood Campground
- Woods Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sec 15,T10n, R17e To Confluence With Silver Fork Of American River
- Headwaters In Sec 2, T9n, R18e To Confluence With Mokelumne River
- 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
- State Highway 50 To 1/4 Mile North Of State Highway 50
- 1/4 Mile North Of State Highway 50 To Avalanche Lake
Track Caples Lake Auxiliary 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 Caples Lake Auxiliary
Where does the data for Caples Lake Auxiliary 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 Caples Lake Auxiliary .