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author, described the road as an ill-fated enterprise: "The grade is frightful. For an hour or more, we go slowly up it stopping every few yards or so to give our horses breath," James wrote of a ride on the old road a half century after it was built. "It is hard enough for horses to go up this grade but to pull heavily-ladened (sic) wagons - it seems impossible, " he concluded. Later attempts to improve this road or forge other wagon roads were not successful.
383:
where it flows into
Interbay Reservoir. From here, in addition to releases down the Middle Fork American River, the water is diverted into a tunnel to Ralston Powerhouse and into Ralston Afterbay, where it joins water from the pre-dam path. Oxbow Powerhouse and Oxbow control dam there releases water into the middle fork of the American River just below the spot of the historical confluence.
80:
50:
480:(formerly "Squaw Valley", a ski area and home to the 1960 Winter Olympics) was a tourist hotel which had a rustic hideaway camp at Five Lakes now in Granite Chief Wilderness. James described the Five Lakes resort as a 160-acre (0.65 km) timber claim in which the timber had never been cut but in which cabins had been built and rowboats kept in hand for fishing upon the five small lakes.
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outlet, and water rapidly accumulated behind the partially constructed dam. As the water came up it was seeping through the rockfill, and when it crested, the entire mass collapsed in a matter of minutes. A surge went down the canyon, washing out two older suspension bridges below the Long Canyon influx and at the
Spanish Dry Diggings crossing near Greenwood. It then washed out the
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Placer County's 1961 bond approval allowed its water agency to seek out water supplies that were not already claimed by others. Loon Lake, south of Hell Hole, was already prescripted, but the rugged, untouched Hell Hole was not. In 1934, the State of
California took steps to claim any unclaimed water
351:
The
Truckee and American River (formerly Foresthill) ranger districts of the Tahoe National Forest advise caution at Granite Chief: "Topographic maps and skills to use them are highly recommended in the wilderness because of the minimal level in signing and remoteness of the area." Wilderness permits
456:
The roads then brought timber claimants and homesteaders, called locators, who were able to claim public lands. The old homesteads and timber claims were bought by private water companies or hoteliers who sought visitors to the "healthful" mineral springs after much of the timber was depleted by the
265:
James' guide for the 1913 camping expedition to Hell Hole was Bob Watson, a well-known camping guide who operated in the Lake Tahoe Region from the 1880s into the first decades of the 20th century. Watson may have been the source of the story who sought to entertain and edify his paying clients with
530:
Hell Hole Dam was partially completed at the time of extremely heavy storms in
December 1964. The downstream rockfill portion was up ~220' above the river bottom, but the impervious core and adjacent zones were only up ~35'. Debris from extreme storm runoff upstream of the dam blocked the diversion
390:
which impounds the Middle Fork of the
American River. The water travels through a tunnel to a powerhouse located on the north side of Hell Hole. French Meadows, at 5,200 elevation, is higher than the 4,700-foot (1,400 m) elevation at Hell Hole. The powerhouse at Hell Hole is actually known by
524:-type dam, was completed across the Rubicon River in December 1964. As the reservoir began filling the dam sprung a leak during a flood event and failed completely the next day. The resulting flood washed down the Middle Fork of the American River and washed away the Greenwood Bridge near Auburn.
382:
The pre-dam river channel wended its way several miles to its confluence with the Middle Fork of the
American River near Ralston Afterbay. Now, In addition to releases from Hell Hole down the pre-dam path, water is diverted through a pipeline to Middle Fork Powerhouse (AKA Stephenson Powerhouse)
444:
Somewhat later, in 1862, the residents of Placer County (Auburn, Foresthill) came upon a scheme to build a road from the
Foresthill divide to Olympic Valley with the intent of luring immigrant trains away from Nevada City and into Placerville and neighboring vicinities. George Wharton James, the
339:
Upper Hell Hole forms the western border of the
Granite Chief Wilderness. A small buffer zone between the lake shore and the wilderness prevents accidental intrusion into the wilderness. The juxtaposition of the lake and wilderness presents the opportunity for rustic boat/backpacking adventures
276:
James reported finding a natural lake near the Hell Hole chasm known as Bear Lake, which would have been drowned by the reservoir. He also described Hell Hole in terms that bely the colorful name: "Hell Hole? Then give me more of it," he wrote. The author reported his pleasure of the canyon was
317:
The lake's principal inflows are from the
Rubicon River and Five Lakes Creek, formerly a tributary of the Rubicon. Lake water has drowned the historical confluence of the two water courses. The Rubicon River was once known as the south fork of the middle fork of the American River. The Rubicon
778:
Sources differ on who dammed Loon Lake. Mike Brattland of Gerle Creek.com cites the California Water Company, while George Wharton James (cited above) wrote the dam was in the hands of the Reno Water and Electric Power Company the two citations are 40 years apart and both could be
340:
through the rugged and scenic 25,680 acres (103.9 km) of wilderness. Like the lake itself, the wilderness is lightly used on the western border. Hell Hole Trail enters the wilderness from near the lake but is difficult to locate. Granite Chief Wilderness is managed by the
437:. The gold rush did not intrude into the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada range, but the water and timber needs of these towns did intrude into the upper elevations. In one case in 1873 the privately owned, California Water Company employed a scheme to dam
296:
Proposals for the dam date to 1958. In 1964 the first Hell Hole dam was partially complete. The dam collapsed on December 23, 1964. A new dam was completed in 1966. Placer County sought drinking water supplies to fuel growth of its communities in the
277:
derived from its rugged nature that precluded human exploitation: Logging, mining, water development and road building, evident in other portions of the Lake Tahoe region. It was "a paradise of delightful surprises," he wrote.
483:
The Five Lakes are the headwaters of Five Lakes Creek which led James on his 1913 horseback descent into Hell Hole in the company of Bob Watson, the guide. The pair camped at Hell Hole, then ascended the Rubicon River to
452:
silver rush in the 1860s in Nevada Territory also encouraged the attempt of the gold-rush foothillers to find pathways over the mountains to the riches of the Comstock and the more local Olympic Valley silver excitement.
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413:
Hell Hole canyon and nearby vicinities initially escaped man-made exploitation during the latter half of the 19th century, but events that occurred then allowed eventual exploitation of Hell Hole during the 1960s.
589:
Brass plaque installed at dam breakwater: "Placer County Water Agency; Middle Fork American River Development; Hell Hole Reservoir and Dam -1966. Acre feet - 207,590. Height 410 feet (120 m). Area 1,253 acres
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worked for McCreary-Koretsky Engrs on the MFAR Project-between June 1964 and December of 1965 and before that worked for Ets-Hokins & Galvin on the Brushy Springs(Middle Fork) Powerhouse & Penstock.
273:
attributes the first use of the name "Hell Hole" to a United States Geological Survey map of 1894. The board was created in 1890, so previous uses of the name on federal government maps are possible.
394:
The traditional channel of the Rubicon River still maintains water flow from the spillway at Hell Hole Dam and from tributaries of the Rubicon below the dam, such as Gerle Creek (pronounced girly).
397:
The Placer County Water Agency does not take water directly from Hell Hole or the other dam but instead claims rights to the water as it is shipped through the American River System and ends up at
683:
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258:(1858–1923), visited the canyon in 1913. He attributed the name to an unidentified miner seeking riches during the mining excitement of 1862 in what was then-called "Squaw Valley", now
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262:. It was "a hell of hole to get out of," James wrote, but admitted his source for the place name was more speculative than the anonymous miner's chances for riches in the area.
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911:
405:. Folsom dam was originally constructed for the purposes of flood control. The Placer water agency's dams and Ralston are presently known as the Middle Fork Project.
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brought them to the lake. One particular resort established east of Hell Hole has a significant relationship to the canyon. Deer Park, just south of
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363:(OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for Hell Hole Reservoir based on levels of mercury found in species of fish caught there.
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488:, where they camped again. Rockbound Lake is now in the Desolation Wilderness and is near the headwaters of the Rubicon River. The
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rights along the American River's three forks. In 1962 the rights to the Rubicon River water were conveyed to Placer County.
425:
The gold rush of 1849 on the South Fork of the American River resulted in establishment of Sierra foothill towns of Auburn,
285:
Lower Hell Hole Dam (its official name) is operated by the Placer County Water Agency. The agency controls two dams in the
441:
to the south of Hell Hole and then sluice the water closer to Georgetown where it could be used by residents and farmers.
527:
The Placer County Water Agency began a new dam which was completed two years later and has now stood for 42 years.
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105:
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309:. The agency also sought to generate hydroelectric power to finance its ability to deliver the water to users.
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River's entry into the lake is via a cataract where the river has eroded through the elevated granite block.
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bridge over the American River just below Auburn. Folsom Dam reservoir absorbed the surge below that point.
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How the canyon came to be named Hell Hole is a combination of folklore and speculation. An early author,
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The lake also features many small granitic islands that expand and contract with the level of the lake.
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in California, United States. The lake is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long when at full capacity.
461:
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293:. The water agency gained its power from financing approved by Placer County voters in 1961.
371:
The construction of the present Hell Hole Dam also changed the course of the Rubicon River.
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U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, Truckee and Foresthill Ranger Districts,
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251:. Hell Hole is named for a deep canyon which is now under the waters of the lake.
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tales of local history. James attributed much of the local lore to Watson.
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Water for hydroelectric generation is also shuttled into Hell Hole from
512:
Upper Hell Hole looking northwest to Granite Chief Wilderness, May 2005
684:"California planning US$ 1.8 million Hell Hole Dam core raise project"
417:
769:
Placer County Water Agency, Map 1, Archaeological Survey, 2006, 2007
344:, while visitor facilities at Hell Hole are exclusively managed by
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846:"The UC Davis School of Engineering with photos of dam failure"
378:
Lowest cataract on Rubicon River before it enters the reservoir
660:"Hell Hole Dam collapse 50 years ago today continues to teach"
361:
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
880:"1964 Highway 49 Bridge Rubble Remains A Cleanup Quandary"
352:
are not required to enter the Granite Chief Wilderness.
647:
Nature noir : a park ranger's patrol in the Sierra
239:
with the completion of Lower Hell Hole Dam across the
616:"The hearing of the California Board of Water Rights"
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Railroads brought the tourists. Tourists could reach
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is in Placer County as is the suburban community of
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111:
101:
21:
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217:is an artificial, crescent-shaped lake in the
500:. Desolation Wilderness was created in 1969.
474:Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company
221:mountain range 10 miles (16 km) west of
8:
815:"The California Water Rights Board hearings"
203:(far) and Hell Hole Reservoir (near) in the
79:
49:
917:Lakes of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
18:
561:List of dams and reservoirs in California
181:208,400 acre⋅ft (257,100,000 m)
605:, J.F. Tapley Co, New York,1915 Ch.15-16
566:List of largest reservoirs of California
199:Aerial view from the south-southeast of
937:Energy infrastructure completed in 1966
912:Reservoirs in Placer County, California
582:
271:United States Board on Geographic Names
332:after a long advocacy campaign by the
16:Reservoir in Placer County, California
649:Houghton Mifflin, Boston Mass., 2005.
490:Sacramento Municipal Utility District
391:the name, French Meadows powerhouse.
7:
472:by the end of the 19th century. The
243:, which is a major tributary of the
571:American River (California) topics
14:
947:Reservoirs in Northern California
942:1966 establishments in California
324:In 1984, the federally protected
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421:Rubicon river and upper cataract
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71:
48:
41:
27:
745:Pham, Huyen Tran (2016-05-12).
336:, a conservation organization.
184:
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1:
100:
92:Show map of the United States
301:. The gold-rush-era town of
228:The lake was created in 1966
189:4,630 ft (1,411 m)
922:American River (California)
963:
492:controls a dam within the
884:AmericanRiverWildlife.com
346:El Dorado National Forest
106:Placer County, California
35:
26:
927:Eldorado National Forest
713:Granite Chief Wilderness
388:French Meadows Reservoir
326:Granite Chief Wilderness
287:Eldorado National Forest
230: (58 years ago)
201:French Meadows Reservoir
348:(Georgetown district).
599:James, George Wharton
513:
422:
379:
330:United States Congress
211:
135:39.08011°N 120.39230°W
62:Show map of California
932:Tahoe National Forest
790:"Gerle creek history"
747:"Hell Hole Reservoir"
726:"Hell Hole Reservoir"
645:Fisher-Smith, Jordan
520:The Hell Hole dam, a
511:
494:Desolation Wilderness
420:
377:
356:are always required.
342:Tahoe National Forest
291:Tahoe National Forest
198:
464:by rail from either
256:George Wharton James
140:39.08011; -120.39230
715:information packet.
602:The Lake of the Sky
462:Truckee, California
328:was created by the
215:Hell Hole Reservoir
131: /
86:Hell Hole Reservoir
56:Hell Hole Reservoir
22:Hell Hole Reservoir
688:www.hydroworld.com
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423:
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281:Current conditions
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498:Rubicon Reservoir
313:Recreational uses
299:Sacramento Valley
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186:Surface elevation
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848:. Archived from
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820:. Archived from
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792:. Archived from
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621:. Archived from
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590:(5.07 km)."
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533:State Highway 49
409:Historical usage
354:Campfire permits
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664:Auburn Journal
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504:Recent history
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486:Rockbound Lake
478:Olympic Valley
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260:Olympic Valley
249:American River
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852:on 2008-03-19
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827:on 2007-07-15
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796:on 2008-07-04
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694:on 2019-02-26
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628:on 2007-07-15
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466:San Francisco
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450:Comstock Lode
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241:Rubicon River
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219:Sierra Nevada
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207:just west of
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205:Sierra Nevada
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169:United States
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890:30 September
888:. Retrieved
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874:
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854:. Retrieved
850:the original
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829:. Retrieved
822:the original
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798:. Retrieved
794:the original
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754:. Retrieved
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696:. Retrieved
692:the original
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667:. Retrieved
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630:. Retrieved
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553:Lakes portal
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178:Water volume
886:. WordPress
470:Ogden, Utah
457:mid-1880s.
431:Nevada City
427:Placerville
399:Folsom Lake
334:Sierra Club
245:Middle Fork
138: /
126:120°23′32″W
113:Coordinates
906:Categories
856:2008-03-08
831:2008-03-08
800:2008-03-08
756:2018-06-13
698:2019-02-25
669:2019-02-25
632:2008-03-08
577:References
435:Georgetown
403:Sacramento
223:Lake Tahoe
209:Lake Tahoe
123:39°04′48″N
522:rock-fill
439:Loon Lake
367:Hydrology
307:Roseville
157:Reservoir
779:correct.
539:See also
102:Location
247:of the
233: (
303:Auburn
825:(PDF)
818:(PDF)
751:OEHHA
731:OEHHA
626:(PDF)
619:(PDF)
401:near
164:Basin
892:2014
448:The
433:and
359:The
289:and
269:The
235:1966
152:Type
468:or
908::
882:.
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728:.
686:.
662:.
496::
429:,
894:.
859:.
834:.
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759:.
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701:.
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237:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
