Camino dam
Camino
Located in Coloma, California, Camino is a concrete hydroelectric dam designed by Bechtel and completed in 1961. Standing at a structural height of 133 feet and spanning 470 feet in length, Camino is situated on Silver Creek and serves as a critical water resource in El Dorado County. With a normal storage capacity of 528 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 64,000 cubic feet per second, Camino plays a vital role in managing water supply and hydroelectric power generation in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Camino is regulated and inspected at regular intervals to ensure its safe operation. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 120 feet and three vertical lift outlet gates for water release. Despite its low hazard potential, Camino is categorized as having a very high risk level, indicating the importance of effective risk management measures. The dam's Emergency Action Plan was last revised in February 2021, highlighting the commitment to preparedness and safety in the event of emergencies.
As a key component of the water infrastructure in California, Camino serves as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. With its strategic location and reliable operation, the dam contributes to the sustainable utilization of water resources for both local communities and the hydroelectric power sector. As climate change continues to impact water availability and infrastructure resilience, the role of dams like Camino becomes increasingly crucial in ensuring a secure and reliable water supply for the future.
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 Camino -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| General C Nr Meeks Bay Ca | 15 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 732 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca | 188 cfs | → |
| Blackwood C Nr Tahoe City Ca | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Camino .
Boat launches
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Forebay Road El Dorado County
- Sly Park Road, Pollock Pines
- Dry Lakes Trail El Dorado County
- Rock Creek Road El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Black Oak Campground
- Black Oak Group Campground
- Stumpy Meadows
- West Point
- Deerwood - Sly Park Recreation Area
- Stumpy Meadows Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Ellicots Bridge To Big Grizzly Canyon
- Big Grizzly Canyon To Oxbow Reservoir
- Cosumnes Mine Road To Confluence With Steely Fork Cosumnes River
- Confluence With Van Horn Creek To Cosumnes Mine Road
- Interbay To Oxbow (End Of The World)
- South Fork American River
More reservoirs
Track Camino 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 Camino
Where does the data for Camino 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 Camino .