Caples Lake Auxiliary
Caples Lake Auxiliary is an earth dam located in Alpine County, California, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Caples Lake Auxiliary
The primary purpose of Caples Lake Auxiliary is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by El Dorado Irrigation District (private). It impounds the Caples Creek near Kirkwood.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 587 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22,338 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/24/2023.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Alpine |
| Nearest City | Kirkwood |
| River/Stream | Caples Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.70333, -120.06463 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 587 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22,338 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22,338 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,338 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | El Dorado Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00378 |
| Federal ID | CA00378S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |