Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 2B: Tahoe National Forest and American River

Part 2B continues with the national forest system and then describes the reservoir and hydroelectric power systems of the American River area of the Sierra Nevada forests ecoregion.

Lake Tahoe Basin

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California, manages 78 percent of the Lake Tahoe watershed, and was formed from lands of the Eldorado, Tahoe, and Toiyabe National Forests. The special management unit was established from three national forests to protect the 1,650-foot-deep natural lake. The southernmost point is at the headwaters of the Upper Truckee River along the Pacific Crest Trail near Carson Pass (N38º42’ W120º0’), the northernmost point is at Mount Relay west of Tahoe Meadows (N39º19’ W119º57’), the westernmost point is at near Barker Peak on the Pacific Crest Trail (N39º5’ W120º15’), and the easternmost point is on State Route 207 in Haines Canyon (N38º58’ W119º51’). The Taylor Creek Visitor Center (N38º56’ W120º3’) is at South Lake Tahoe. Near the Visitor Center is a stream profile chamber where a diverted creek can be viewed through aquarium windows. Also near the visitor center is Tallac Historic Area, a resort for San Francisco elite in the early 20th century; Valhalla, an art, museum, and theater hall built in 1924; and trailheads for hikes into the Desolation Wilderness. Trailheads for the wilderness are discussed in the wilderness entry. Other trailheads in the management unit are at Big Meadow on State Route 89 (N38º47’ W119º56’), which is for the Tahoe Rim Trail to Dardanelles Lake; Lam Watah on US Route 50 (N38º58’ W119º56’), which is for Nevada Beach Trail; Bayview on State Route 89 (N38º57’ W120º6’), which is for Cascade Falls; Spooner Summit South on US Route 50 (N39º6’ W119º54’), for the Tahoe Rim Trail; Chimney Beach on State Route 28 (N39º10’ W119º56’), and Lakeshore Drive in Kings Beach (N39º14’ W120º0’), for the Stateline Lookout.

The unit is encircled by the 165-mile long Tahoe Rim National Recreation Trail. The western boundary is approximately followed by the Pacific Crest Trail, which is collocated with the Tahoe Rim Trail on the west side of Lake Tahoe. The Carson Range on the east side of Lake Tahoe is an IBA. A portion of the Desolation Wilderness and Mount Rose Wilderness are within the unit lands. Grass Lake Research Natural Area (N38º48’ W119º57’) is just west of Luther Pass on State Route 89. The 360-acre area is the largest floating Sphagnum bog in California, surrounded by red fir forest. Echo Lake (N38º50’ W120º3’) is part of the El Dorado Hydroelectric Project, operated by the El Dorado Irrigation District. The lake is a trailhead for the Desolation Wilderness. The Pony Express National Historic Trail crosses the forest between Meyers (N38º51’ W120º2’), Echo Summit (N38º49’ W120º2’), and Luther Pass (N38º47’ W119º57’). Thunderbird Lodge (N39º10’ W119º56’) is operated by the Thunderbird Preservation Society. Constructed in 1936, the lodge is the last and best example of a residential estate on Lake Tahoe built by San Francisco elite. The lodge was built by Capt. George Whittell, Jr., who owned 40,000 acres on the eastern shore of the lake and maintained it in an undeveloped state. This land is now mostly part of Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

 Tahoe National Forest

The Tahoe National Forest is 800,000 acres in both the Mother Lode and Truckee River watersheds on both sides of I-80. The Onion Creek Experimental Forest and Sagehen Experimental Forest are managed by the Pacific Southwest Research Station and are described separately. The Granite Chief Wilderness and North Fork American River National Wild and Scenic River are also within the forest and are also described separately. The Truckee Route of the California National Historic Trail crosses the forest from Donner Camp (N39º23’ W120º11’) to Mule Springs (N39º15’ W120º48’). The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail enters the forest at Miller Meadows (N39º2’ W120º14) and is co-located with the Tahoe Rim Trail north to Twin Peaks (N39º6’ W120º14’). The trail enters Granite Chief Wilderness at Twin Peaks (N39º6’ W120º14’) and leaves the wilderness at Granite Chief (N39º12’ W120º17’). It then crosses Donner Pass (N39º19’ W120º19’), Donner Summit (N39º21’ W120º20’), Meadow Lake Road (N39º25’ W120º27’), Henness Pass Road (N39º30’ W120º32’), State Route 49 at Sierra City (N39º35’ W120º37’), Summit Lake (N39º40’ W120º41’) on the Plumas National Forest boundary, and leaves the forest at Gibraltar (N39º43’ W120º46’).

American River Area

This portion of Tahoe National Forest is accessed by Foresthill Road east from Auburn. Near Foresthill is the Foresthill Forest Genetics Center (N39º5’ W120º44’), formerly used for genetic research and containing white fir, sugar pine, Douglas’fir, and red fir seed orchards. To the north is the Foresthill Off-Highway Vehicle Trails area (N39º7’ W120º46’).

The North Fork American River is a wild and scenic river from the forest boundary (N39º10’ W120º47’) upstream 24 miles to Green Valley (N39º15’ W120º24’). Sugar Pine Reservoir (N39º8’ W120º48’) is on North Shirttail Creek, a tributary to the North Fork American River. It is operated by the Foresthill Public Utility District, which acquired the reservoir in 2003 from the Bureau of Reclamation. The Joshua M. Hardt Memorial Trail follows the reservoir shoreline for three miles. Upstream of Sugar Pine, Big Reservoir, Morning Star Resort, California (N39º8’ W120º48’) is a privately operated campground resort on Forbes Creek within the Tahoe National Forest. Sugar Pine Point Research Natural Area (N39º15’ W120º32’) overlooks the North Fork American River and is 640 acres of ponderosa-sugar-white fir mixed conifer forest ecosystem.

Placer County Big Tree Grove Botanical Area (N39º3’ W120º34’) is 364 acres on Mosquito Ridge Road. It is the northernmost natural occurrence of the Sierra redwoods. The Big Tree National Recreation Trail (1.4 miles long) provides access. Grouse Falls Scenic Area (N39º6’ W120º37’) is 141 acres surrounding the highest cascading waterfall in California, on the North Fork of the Middle Fork American River, reached from Forest Highway 33. Lyon Peak/Needle Lake Research Natural Area (N39º12’ W120º18’) is a 740-acre roadless area north of Granite Chief Wilderness used for research on the mountain hemlock forest type. The Western States Pioneer National Recreation Trail crosses the forest from near Foresthill (N39º2’ W120º47’) east to Painted Rock (N39º13’ W120º11’), in the Squaw Valley area on State Route 89 near Lake Tahoe. The trail is 55 miles long and used for endurance riding.

French Meadows Reservoir (N39º7’ W120º27’) and Ralston Afterbay (N39º0’ W120º45’), both on the Middle Fork American River, are operated by the Placer County Water Agency on Tahoe National Forest lands. Both offer trails as well as water-based recreation.

South Yuba River Area

Meadow Lake Archaeological Area (N39º24’ W120º30’) is a 70-acre area on Meadow Lake recognized for its use as a former gold mining area and for prehistoric rock art. The South Yuba River flows through a steep-walled canyon within the Tahoe National Forest and is eligible for the national wild and scenic river system from Lake Spaulding (N39º19’ W120º39’) 21 miles downstream to the forest boundary at New York Canyon (N39º19’ W120º54’). The river is a designated California State Wild and Scenic River. The South Yuba National Recreation Trail begins at Poorman Creek in the Tahoe National Forest (N39º21’ W120º49’) and extends downstream along the river to the forest boundary. The Pioneer National Recreation Trail extends from the forest boundary at Five Mile House east of Nevada City (N39º17’ W120º57’) parallel to State Route 20 to Bear Valley, and then north to Lake Spaulding (N39º20’ W120º38’). Also on State Route 20 is the Burlington Ridge Off-Highway Vehicle area (N39º19’ W120º50’); the Rock Creek Nature Trail (N39º18’ W120º56’), which goes by an old mill site on Forest Road 20-3-4; and the Omega Overlook (N39º19’ W120º45’), which provides a view of the Alpha and Omega Diggins.

The area between the South Yuba River and Middle Yuba River and surrounding Malakoff Diggins State Historical Park is known as San Juan Ridge (N39º23’ W120º56’). This is a historic hydraulic mining area and is also known for fossil mammal sites. In the upper area of the South Yuba watershed, I-80 climbs Donner Summit. On the way, Big Bend Visitor Center (N39º18’ W120º31’) provides access to Loch Leven Trail and scenic granite outcroppings and glacial erratics.

Elsewhere, the South Yuba River watershed is crisscrossed with complex hydroelectric developments of the Nevada Irrigation District and Pacific Gas and Electric. Jackson Lake (N39º28’ W120º34’) is at the headwaters of Jackson Creek, a tributary to Bowman Lake. It provides storage for the Bowman hydroelectric project. French Lake (N39º25’ W120º32’), is on Canyon Creek and provides storage for release into Bowman Lake. Faucherie Lake (N39º26’ W120º34’), is on Canyon Creek downstream from French Lake and provides storage for release into Bowman Lake. Sawmill Lake (N39º27’ W120º36’) is on Canyon Creek downstream from Faucherie Lake. It provides storage for release into Bowman Lake. Bowman Lake (N39º27’ W120º39’) is on Canyon Creek downstream from Sawmill Lake. It stores water for release to the Bowman powerhouse downstream of the dam. Bowman-Spaulding Conduit Diversion Dam (N39º27’ W120º40’) is on Canyon Creek immediately downstream from Bowman Lake and diverts water to the Spaulding No. 3 Project of Pacific Gas & Electric.

The Spaulding No. 3 development of Pacific Gas & Electric captures water from a series of creeks and routes it into the Bowman-Spaulding Conduit for hydroelectric generation at the Spaulding No. 3 Powerhouse on Spaulding Lake. Facilities on National Forest lands include Culbertson Lake (N39º25’ W120º37’), Lower Lindsey Lake (N39º25’ W120º38’), Feeley Lake and Carr Lake (both 39º24’ W120º38’), Rucker Lake and Fuller Lake  (both N39º21’ W120º39’), Fall Creek Diversion (N39º23’ W120º40’), Clear Creek Diversion (N39º23’ W120º41’), and Trap Creek Diversion (N39º22’ W120º41’). The Spaulding No. 1 and No. 2 Developments on National Forest lands include White Rock Lake (N39º25’ W120º23’), Meadow Lake (N39º24’ W120º30’), Sterling Lake (N39º21’ W120º29’), Fordyce Lake (N39º23’ W120º30’), Upper Peak Lake and Lower Peak Lake (both N39º18’ W120º26’), and Spaulding Lake (N39º20’ W120º38’).Between Spaulding, Bowman, and French Lakes is the Grouse Lake area (N39º25’ W120º35’), which is known for hiking trails. Water leaving Spaulding Lake through the powerhouses can be transferred to the Bear River watershed or the Deer Creek watershed. The South Yuba Canal leading to the Deer Creek area upstream from Nevada City is mostly on Tahoe National Forest land.

Middle Yuba River Area

The Middle Yuba River is eligible for the national wild and scenic river system from Milton Reservoir (N39º31’ W120º35’) for 31 miles downstream to Our House Reservoir (N39º25’ W120º58’). The steep-walled canyon is 2,000 feet deep in places. One tributary, Macklin Creek (N39º30’ W120º36’) supports a population of the Pyramid Lake population of Lahontan cutthroat trout. This population was introduced to the west side of the Sierra divide.

The Bowman Development of the Nevada Irrigation District consists of reservoirs and diversion dams on Tahoe National Forest lands. On the Middle Yuba River is Jackson Meadows Reservoir (N39º30’ W120º33’). It can be reached from Forest Highway 7 over Henness Pass west of State Route 89. The Woodcamp Creek Interpretive Trail near Jackson Meadows (N39º29’ W120º33’) goes through a red fir forest. Downstream is Milton Reservoir (N39º31’ W120º35’), which diverts water through a tunnel to Bowman Lake on Canyon Creek, a tributary to the South Yuba River. Wilson Creek Diversion Dam (N39º31’ W120º35’) is on the Milton-Bowman aqueduct near Milton Reservoir and diverts creek water into the aqueduct and tunnel for delivery to Bowman Lake.

The Yuba River Development Project of Yuba County Water Agency includes three dams on Tahoe National Forest lands. Water is diverted from the Middle Yuba River by the Our House Diversion Dam (N39º25’ W121º0’). Water enters a tunnel and exits at the Log Cabin Diversion Dam on Oregon Creek (N39º26’ W121º3’). Water from Log Cabin Diversion is transferred via tunnel to New Bullards Bar Reservoir (N39º24’ W121º8’), which is on the Tahoe National Forest boundary with the Plumas National Forest.

North Yuba River Area

State Route 49 north from Nevada City provides access to Downieville and national forest lands along the North Yuba River. North of the crossing of the Middle Yuba River is the Oregon Creek Covered Bridge (N39º24’ W121º5’). New Bullards Bar Reservoir (N39º24’ W121º8’), is partially on Tahoe National Forest lands. There is a powerhouse at the reservoir. The reservoir is part of the Yuba River Development Project. An extensive trail system involving the 14-mile Bullards Bar Trail and connecting trails is on the south side of the reservoir.On the way to Downieville is Jouberts Diggins (N39º30’ W121º2’), where hydraulic mining continued until 1941.

North of Downieville near Canyon Creek is Devils Postpile Geological Area (N39º40’ W120º53’). This is a large vertical pillar of basalt rising above the surrounding landscape. A few miles to the east of Devils Postpile, Chimney Rock (N39º41’ W120º49’) is an unusual volcanic rock formation at the top of a 7000-foot mountain, accessible by hiking trail. East of Downieville, the Sierra Buttes (N39º36’ W120º39’) are the northernmost granite outcrop in the Sierra Nevada and support the southernmost occurrence of green spleenwort. Nearby is the Sand Pond Interpretive Trail (N39º37’ W120º37’) and the Kentucky Mine-Sierra City Museum (N39º34’ W120º37’), a project of Sierra County. West of Yuba Pass on State Route 49 is the Sierra Nevada Field Campus of San Francisco State University (N39º37’ W120º35’), where adult education courses are offered in the summer and research on the geology, flora, and fauna of the northern Sierra Nevada takes place.

Donner Summit and Truckee Area

The Alder Creek Camp Site of the Donner emigrant party (N39º23’ W120º11’) is on State Route 89 north of Truckee at the Donner Camp Picnic Area. The Tahoe National Forest site is part of the Donner Camp Sites National Historic Landmark, described separately. Donner Lake Rim Trail (N39º21’ W120º20’) connects the Donner Lake Interchange on I-80 with the Pacific Crest Trail at Donner Summit on I-80 and is a project of the Truckee-Donner Land Trust. The Donner Summit Canyon Trail (N39º19’ W120º19’) connects the west end of Donner Lake with Donner Pass, approximately along the route of the California National Historic Trail and original route of the Lincoln Highway, crossing both Tahoe National Forest and Truckee Donner Land Trust property. West of Donner Pass, Royal Gorge (N39º18’ W120º22’) is a hiking area developed by the Truckee Donner Land Trust using private property and Forest Service lands.

Glacier Meadows Geological Area (N39º20’ W120º20’) is 210 acres south of I-80 at Donner Summit. The area is known for scoured and polished granite with scattered large boulders and is accessed by a one-half mile trail from the I-80 rest stop. North of Donner Summit on the Pacific Crest Trail, Basin Peak (N39º23’ W120º22’) contains a nearly pure stand of mountain hemlock. Nearby Mount Lola (N39º26’ W120º21’) also supports mountain hemlock. Sagehen Headwaters Botanical Area (N39º25’ W120º19’) is a 78-acre glaciated cirque with a diversity of plants and aquatic systems.

On State Route 89 north of Truckee, Kyburz Flat (N39º30’ W120º14’) is a waterfowl nesting area, rock art, stage stop, and sheep camp site. The willow thickets in the flat are part of the Northern Sierra Meadows Important Bird Area. The willow thickets host Lincoln’s sparrow, Wilson’s warbler, and willow flycatcher. Cottonwood Creek Botanical Trail (N39º33’ W120º19’) is a one-half mile walk with plant identification information. There are three Bureau of Reclamation Reservoirs within this part of the forest, and Martis Creek Reservoir (N39º19’ W120º7’) of the US Army Corps of Engineers borders Tahoe National Forest land. Boca Reservoir (N39º24’ W120º6’), is on the Little Truckee River. It provides irrigation storage for the Washoe County Conservation District as part of the Truckee Storage Project, and is accessed from I-80. The dam is at the former Boca town site, which has a mining, lumbering, and railroad history. A one-half mile trail loops to the Boca Brewery, icehouse, and lumber mill sites. Prosser Creek Reservoir (N39º23’ W120º9’), is north of Truckee off of State Route 89 within the Tahoe National Forest. It is part of the Washoe Project, which stores water for fishery enhancement for Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui-ui spawning. Stampede Reservoir (N39º29’ W120º8’), is on the Little Truckee River north of Boca Reservoir. Part of the Washoe Project, it stores water for fishery enhancement for Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui-ui spawning. Between Boca and Stampede reservoirs, the Little Truckee River Terrace (N39º27’ W120º6’) was formed by glacial dam bursts which resulted in release of water from Lake Tahoe.

Toiyabe National Forest

Toiyabe National Forest, 645,000 acres in California and 2.5 million acres in Nevada, is administered together with the Humbolt National Forest and includes the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada from Mono Lake to northwest of Reno, as well as ranges in the Nevada Great Basin desert area. The southernmost point in the Sierra Nevada ecoregion is at Copper Mountain (N38º3’ W119º12’) and the northernmost point is at Roberts Canyon (N39º44’ W120º8’). Wilderness areas in the forest, described separately, include Carson-Iceberg, Hoover, Mokelumne, and Mount Rose.

West of Reno is the Dog Valley portion of the forest. Babbitt Peak proposed Research Natural Area, California (N39º36’ W120º6’), is 960 acres in the Toiyabe and Tahoe National Forests, with an exemplary forest of Washoe pine, red fir, western white pine, and mountain hemlock. The Truckee Route of the California National Scenic Trail crosses Dog Valley (N39º33’ W120º2’).

Southwest of Reno, State Route 431, the Mount Rose Scenic Byway, traverses the forest in an area known as the Carson Front. The Galena Creek Visitor Center, Nevada (N39º22’ W119º51’) is the trailhead for an extensive trail system at the boundary between the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin ecoregions. Trails lead into the Mount Rose Wilderness. The Tahoe Rim National Recreation Trail crosses this portion of the forest and goes in and out of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit-Toiyabe National Forest boundary. The Pony Express National Historic Trail crosses the forest at the Kingsbury Grade (State Route 207) (N38º58’ W119º52’).

The Alpine management area includes portions of Alpine County, California. Hope Valley (N38º46’ W119º56’) on the West Fork Carson River at the junction of State Routes 88 and 89 is considered eligible for national natural landmark status. East Fork Carson River is eligible for the national wild and scenic river system from Silver King Valley (N38º36’ W119º40’) downstream to where it leaves the national system of public lands at a diversion dam (N38º53’ W119º41’) above the Lahonton Fish Hatchery. The eligibility continues upstream to the source in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. The California National Historic Trail, Carson Route, crosses the forest from Woodfords Station (N38º47’ W119º50’) to Carson Pass (N38º42’ W119º59’). The Walker River-Sonora Route of the California National Historic Trail crosses the forest from Little Lost Canyon (N38º30’ W119º30’) to Leavitt Meadow (N38º20’ W119º33’) and then enters the Hoover Wilderness. The Pony Express National Historic Trail crosses the forest between Woodford’s Station (N38º47’ W119º49’) and Luther Pass (N38º47’ W119º57’).

The Walker Management area includes the West Walker River watershed. Leavitt Meadows is part of the Sierra Meadows North Important Bird Area. The West Fork Walker River is eligible for the national wild and scenic river system from Leavitt Meadows (N38º18’ W119º33’) downstream to where it leaves the national forest along US Route 395 at Walker (N38º30’ W119º27’).

In the East Walker River watershed, Twin Lakes (N38º10’ W119º20’) are on Robinson Creek near Bridgeport. Resorts and trailheads for the Hoover Wilderness are in this area. Just north of Twin Lakes, Buckeye Hot Springs (N38º14’ W119º20’) provide recreational soaking.

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail passes through the wilderness areas of the forest (see separate descriptions under Mokelumne, Carson-Iceberg, and Hoover Wildernesses), as well as at Lost Lakes (N38º39’ W119º57’), Ebbetts Pass on State Route 4 (N38º33’ W119º49’), Wolf Creek Lake (N38º21’ W119º37’), and Sonora Pass (N38º20’ W119º38’).

Reservoirs and Hydroelectric Power Projects

This section includes reservoirs federally authorized (hydroelectric projects), reservoirs located on federal lands, and reservoirs constructed by federal agencies. Because of the large number of hydroelectric developments in the Sierra Nevada, reservoirs are listed by river basin.

American River, North Fork

Big Reservoir, Morning Star Resort, California (N39º8’ W120º48’) is a privately operated campground resort on Forbes Creek within the Tahoe National Forest.

Kelly Lake, Pacific Gas & Electric (N39º19’ W120º35’), is south of I-80 at Yuba Gap on Sixmile Creek, a tributary to the North Fork of the North Fork American River. The hydroelectric storage reservoir is part of the Drum No. 1 and No. 2 Development.

Lake Valley Reservoir, Pacific Gas & Electric (N39º18’ W120º35’) is on the North Fork of the North Fork American River south of I-80 at Yuba Gap. The hydroelectric storage reservoir is part of the Drum No. 1 and No. 2 Development.

Lake Valley Canal Diversion Dam, Pacific Gas & Electric (N39º18’ W120º38’) delivers water to the Drum Forebay, which in turn regulates water flow into the Drum powerhouses on the Bear River (see). This facility is part of the Drum No. 1 and No. 2 Development.

Sugar Pine Reservoir, Foresthill Public Utility District, California (N39º8’ W120º48’) is on North Shirttail Creek, a tributary to the North Fork American River, and is on Tahoe National Forest lands. The water supply reservoir was purchased by the utility district in 2003 from the Bureau of Reclamation, which originally constructed it.

Towle Canal Diversion Dam, Pacific Gas & Electric (N39º14’ W120º45’) is on Canyon Creek, a tributary to the North Fork American River. Water is diverted to the Alta Powerhouse on the Bear River (see). The small dam is along I-80 and is part of the Alta Development of Pacific Gas & Electric.

Newcastle Powerhouse, Pacific Gas & Electric (N38º50’ W121º6’) receives water from the South Canal (Wise Development) and discharges to Mormon Ravine on Folsom Lake.

American River, Middle Fork

Buck Island Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N39º0’ W120º15’), is on a tributary to the Rubicon River, but its water is diverted to Loon Lake by a tunnel. It is part of the Upper American River hydroelectric project in the Eldorado National Forest.

French Meadows Reservoir, Placer County Water Agency (N39º7’ W120º27’), is on the Middle Fork American River in the Tahoe National Forest. Hiking trails and campgrounds are on the reservoir.

Gerle Creek Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º58′ W120º24′), is on a tributary of the South Fork Rubicon River in the Crystal Basin area of Eldorado National Forest.

Hell Hole Reservoir, Placer County Water Agency (N39º4’ W120º24’) is a water supply and hydroelectric reservoir on the Rubicon River, a tributary to the Middle Fork American River, in Eldorado National Forest. It adjoins the Granite Chief Wilderness in the Tahoe National Forest. Hiking trails and campgrounds are on the reservoir.

Loon Lake, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º59’ W120º19’) is on Gerle Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Rubicon River, and is part of the Upper American River hydroelectric project. It is also part of the Crystal Basin Recreation Area in the Eldorado National Forest.

Robbs Creek Dam, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º57’ W120º23’) is on the South Fork Rubicon River. It is part of the upper American River hydroelectric development.

Rubicon Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º59’ W120º13’) is on the Rubicon River in the Desolation Wilderness. It is part of the Upper American River hydroelectric project.

Stumpy Meadows Reservoir, Georgetown Public Utility District (N38º54 W120º36’) is in the Eldorado National Forest east of Georgetown. Mark Edson Dam impounds Pilot Creek, a tributary to the Rubicon River, to create the reservoir.

American River, South Fork

Lake Aloha, El Dorado Irrigation District, California (N38º52’ W120º8’), is on Pyramid Creek in the Desolation Wilderness and is part of the El Dorado hydroelectric project on the South Fork American River.

Brush Creek Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (NN38º49’ W120º37’), is on Forebay Road north of Pollock Pines in the Eldorado National Forest. Brush Creek is a tributary to the South Fork American River and is part of the Upper American River Hydroelectric Project.

Camino Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º50’ W120º32’), is on Silver Creek in the Eldorado National Forest and used as part of the Upper American River Hydroelectric Project.

Caples Lake, El Dorado Irrigation District (N38º42’ W120º3’) is on State Route 88 near Carson Pass in the Eldorado National Forest. It is operated as part of the El Dorado hydroelectric project on the South Fork American River.

Chili Bar Reservoir, Pacific Gas and Electric, California (N38º46’ W120º49’) is off State Route 193 north of Placerville, on the South Fork American River.

Ice House Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º50’ W120º21’), is on South Fork Silver Creek in the Eldorado National Forest. It is part of the Crystal Basin Recreation Area and Upper American River Hydroelectric Project.

Junction Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º51’ W120º27’), is on Silver Creek just downstream from Union Valley Reservoir and is visible from Forest Highway 31. It is part of the Crystal Basin Recreation Area and Upper American River Hydroelectric Project in the Eldorado National Forest.

Kyburz Diversion Dam, El Dorado Irrigation District (N38º46’ W120º19’) is on the South Fork American River. It diverts river water into the El Dorado Ditch, which runs along the south side of the River to Forebay Reservoir at Pollock Pines (N38º46’ W120º35’), which in turn diverts the water through Akin Powerhouse (N38º48’ W120º37’) before returning to the river.

Silver Lake, El Dorado Irrigation District (N38º40’ W120º7’) is on Silver Fork American River just off State Route 88 in the Eldorado National Forest. It is operated as part of the El Dorado hydroelectric project on the South Fork American River.

Slab Creek Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º46’ W120º41’), is on the South Fork American River northeast of Placerville in the Eldorado National Forest. It is part of the Upper American River hydroelectric development.

Union Valley Reservoir, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (N38º52’ W120º25’) is on Silver Creek in the Eldorado National Forest. It is the largest reservoir of the Upper American River hydroelectric project and the Crystal Basin Recreation Area. In addition to its watershed, water for the reservoir is diverted from Rubicon Reservoir via Buck Island Dam, Loon Lake, Gerle Creek Reservoir, and Robbs Peak Dam.

Part 2C continues with hydroelectric reservoirs in the Mother Lode including the Mokelumne, Truckee, and Yuba Rivers.