El Dorado Irrigation District began drawing down Caples Lake on Saturday, July 19, to prepare for the replacement of deteriorated outlet works at the Caples Lake main dam on Highway 88. The District emphasizes that the dam structure itself is safe. However, the outlet works were recently found to be in unsound condition and must be replaced.

Project Background
On July 1, the El Dorado Irrigation District’s Board of Directors declared an emergency after a mid-June underwater investigation at Caples Lake revealed major problems with two slide gates. The gates are located in a well-like shaft within the dam. Of particular concern is the lower gate that is about 64 feet under water when the lake is full.

In asking for the emergency declaration, District staff and expert consultants agreed that the gates must be replaced to ensure safe operation of the dam. The District has located a manufacturer who can furnish the replacement parts, and the lake must be drawn down for the replacement work to proceed.

Caples Lake is part of Project 184, the hydroelectric power generation system that the District acquired from Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 1999.

News Releases and Updates Select a document... 11/17/08 Update No. 9 10/17/08 Update No. 8 9/23/08 Update No. 7 9/19/08 Update No. 6 9/16/08 Update No. 5 9/2/08 Update No. 4 8/27/08 Caples Lake Fisheries Management Plan 8/18/08 Update No. 3 8/15/08 "State agency grants EID petition to transfer water..." 8/12/08 "Fish rescue and fishery restocking highlight update..." 8/6/08 "EID petitions state agency to move water..." 7/31/08 Update No. 2 7/24/08 Update No. 1 7/18/08 Caples Lake drawdown begins

DATE OF READING	ACRE FEET	FEET*	DECREASE IN PAST 24 HOURS
December 1, 2008	1308	14.83	0 acre feet
November 5, 2008	1036	13.59	0 acre feet
October 1, 2008	956	13.42	5 acre feet
September 26, 2008	977	13.52	8 acre feet
September 24, 2008	994	13.60	8 acre feet
September 18, 2008	1,518	15.72	280 acre feet
September 16, 2008	2,058	17.83	380 acre feet
September 10, 2008	3,867	23.85	326 acre feet
September 8, 2008	4,496	25.70	455 acre feet
September 4, 2008	5,831	29.34	352 acre feet
September 2, 2008	6,447	30.92	307 acre feet
August 29, 2008	7,726	34.05	335 acre feet
August 27, 2008	8,347	35.51	408 acre feet
August 25, 2008	9,058	37.14	297 acre feet
August 22, 2008	9,923	39.07	261 acre feet
August 20, 2008	10,466	40.25	210 acre feet
August 18, 2008	10,676	40.70	300 acre feet
August 14, 2008	11,887	43.25	314 acre feet
August 11, 2008	12,790	45.10	301 acre feet
August 8, 2008	13,447	46.40	306 acre feet
August 6, 2008	14,063	47.60	312 acre feet
August 4, 2008	14,585	48.60	310 acre feet
July 30, 2008	16,146	51.50	305 acre feet
July 28, 2008	16,758	52.60	310 acre feet
July 25, 2008	17,836	54.50	287 acre feet
July 23, 2008	18,366	55.42	192 acre feet

* A reservoir level of 62 feet (22,340 acre feet) is the highest level
before the reservoir would spill.

---