Gerle Creek
Gerle Creek is a concrete dam located in El Dorado County, California, built in 1962. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Gerle Creek
The primary purpose of Gerle Creek 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 Sacramento Municipal Utility District (public utility). It impounds the Gerle Creek near Coloma.
The dam stands 74 feet tall and stretches 444 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 831 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 08/17/2023.
At 74 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | El Dorado |
| Nearest City | Coloma |
| River/Stream | Gerle Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.96630, -120.39420 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 74 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 444 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 831 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 831 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 831 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 19,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Sacramento Municipal Utility District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00818 |
| Federal ID | CA00818 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |