French Lake
French Lake is a rockfill dam located in Nevada County, California, built in 1859. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About French Lake
The primary purpose of French Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Nevada Irrigation District (public utility). It impounds the Canyon Creek near Graniteville.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 337 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,940 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1859, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 08/22/2023.
At 95 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Nevada |
| Nearest City | Graniteville |
| River/Stream | Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.42100, -120.54230 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1859 (167 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,940 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,940 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,750 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 337 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Nevada Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00247 |
| Federal ID | CA00247 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |