Sly Park Dam (right) and auxiliary dam Location Coordinates: Construction began 1953 Opening date 1955 Operator(s) Dam and spillways Impounds Sly Park Creek Height 190 feet (58 m) Length 760 feet (230 m) Spillway type Gated overflow Spillway capacity 6,700 cubic feet per second (190 m 3/s) Reservoir Creates Jenkinson Lake Total capacity 41,000 (51,000 ) 47 square miles (120 km 2) Surface area 650 acres (260 ha) Power Station 170 feet (52 m) Installed capacity None Sly Park Dam is located near, in the. The dam impounds Sly Park Creek, a tributary of the Middle Fork, to form a 41,000 (51,000 ), 650-acre (260 ha) reservoir called. It was constructed as part of the American River Division of the to provide irrigation water to a portion of.
The dam was begun on May 1953, with clearing operations, and was completed in mid 1955. The earthfill Sly Park Dam is 190 feet (58 m) high, with a of 170 feet (52 m), and 760 feet (230 m) long. Its auxiliary dam is 130 feet (40 m) high and 600 feet (180 m) long. The of Sly Park Dam is actually in the auxiliary dam: it is a concrete chute 170 feet (52 m) long and can carry 6,700 cubic feet (190 m 3) per second, while the at the foot of the dam can carry 47 cubic feet (1.3 m 3) per second. The drainage area of Sly Park Creek behind the dam is 47 square miles (120 km 2). The Camino Conduit diverts water roughly 7.2 miles (11.6 km) west from the Jenkinson Reservoir for irrigation purposes. Water is also diverted from Camp Creek into Jenkinson Lake to increase the total water yield.
Hazel creek tunnel diverts water into Jenkinson Lake. The Jenkinson Lake watershed consists of the approximately 16.5 square mile area between Sly Park Dam and the Cold Canyon Tributary of Sly Park Creek. This area includes both forks of Sly Park Creek, Hazel Creek, and the Cold Canyon Tributary of Sly Park Creek.
Jenkinson Lake receives insufficient inflow from this area and additional water is diverted from outside the watershed through the Camp Creek Diversion Tunnel to meet demand. The area played a significant role in the gold rush era of California's history. Climate Like most of, the Jenkinson Lake watershed has a, with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Located on the windward side of the, the watershed receives a large amount of precipitation relative to other reservoirs in the Central Valley, such as. The area receives an annual average precipitation of 51.6 inches. Precipitation typically occurs October through May as rain and snow, though the reservoir's watershed is low enough in elevation that continued runoff from snow pack is not significant.
The reservoir is necessary to store water for use during the dry summer months. Environment Elevation in the watershed ranges from 3400 to 5600 feet.
The area is mountainous and consists of steep slopes and rocky outcrops. Soils in the area are deep with high water holding capacity. There is a high potential for landslides and the subsequent siltation of streams. The major mineral deposit in the area is gold. This was an important factor in the development of the area. Gold and other mineral deposits in the area may also be rich in iron and sulfides, which may impact water quality.
Vegetation in the area consists of and mixed conifer forest. Common softwood tree species include and. Hardwood tree species include and black oak. Manzanita, western mountain mahogany, and poison oak are common understory plants, in addition to annual grasses.
Vegetation plays an important role in stabilizing slopes in the area. Removal of vegetation by logging, development, and fire may increase erosion and the risk of landslides. Vegetation also provides important habitat for wildlife. Shoreline at Jenkinson Lake The Jenkinson Lake watershed supports a wide variety of animal species. Mammals include, and Common birds include the and. Raptors include, and. Reptiles include, and.
Wildlife makes the area an attractive recreation destination. Some mammals may also carry, which may impact water quality.
Land use Historical land use in the area included mining, ranching and timber harvesting and milling. Following the discovery of gold in California, miners quickly populated the area. The development of agriculture and commerce followed the miners. Large amounts of water were required for hydraulic mining, and the miners built many water conveyance structures, some of which are still used today. The was the first significant human impact on the watershed. Before Sly Park Dam was built, the area where the reservoir now exists was known as Sly Park Ranch.
Grazing and agriculture took place at Sly Park Ranch. There was also a timber mill, Sly Park Mill, located near the second dam on Sly Park Creek. Current land use in the watershed is predominately Forest/Recreational use. Most of the land is publicly owned. The major land owners are El Dorado Irrigation District, the US Bureau of Reclamation, and the USDA Forest Service. Private landowners include the timber companies Sierra Pacific Industries and Georgia Pacific, which have had a large influence on timber management in the region.
Smaller logging operations are authorized on the Forest Service lands as well as recreational uses. Recreational use includes off highway vehicle trails, mountain biking, hunting, and horseback riding among other activities. Water Use Water from Jenkinson Lake is used for municipal water supply, irrigation, and recreation. Historically, irrigation water for agriculture was the greatest water user. As the area develops and the population grows, municipal and commercial water users become more important. Municipal users are now the primary water users of water from Jenkinson Lake, though agriculture is still a significant user. Future population growth, climate change, and water reuse technology and conservation will influence water use in the future.
Municipal users Municipal water is the fastest growing water use within EID's service area. Water from Jenkinson Lake is treated at the Reservoir One Treatment Plant West of the Reservoir. The water is then distributed throughout EID's service area. Jenkinson Lake is not the only source of municipal water for the system; it draws water from several sources including. However, the contribution of water from Jenkinson Lake to the overall water system is substantial.
Jenkinson Lake is the largest reservoir dedicated to water supply that is operated by EID. Many areas in the district's service area are isolated, either by topography or limited water distribution infrastructure, and rely on water from Jenkinson Lake.
Pumping municipal water from operated Folsom Lake is too costly for some areas in the district. Agricultural users Agriculture remains a significant water user despite the rapid urban development in the area. Contains many orchards, vineyards, and pastures that demand large quantities of irrigation water seasonally.
Growers Association farms and ranches are located in nearby. Apple hill includes orchards, Christmas tree farms, pumpkin patches and other agriculture related tourist destinations. While traditional livestock grazing in the area has declined since it was first settled, agricultural water use will likely continue to grow. Recreational users Recreation on the lake is administered by EID.
Recreation on the lake includes boating, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Recreational use has increased over the last several years.
Though recreational users consume a negligible amount of water from Jenkinson Lake, recreational activities have the potential to impact water quality. Pollution from boats, pit toilets, erosion caused by off highway vehicles may pollute the water sources. Because of the lake's recreation potential, population in the area is seasonal. There are many vacation homes in the immediate area of the reservoir. The seasonal population places greater demands on the water system during the summer months, during which recreational opportunities are numerous. Future water use In general, the demand for water is increasing as supplies become less reliable.
Increased and suburban development in EID's service area places greater demand on water supplies and creates more wastewater and stormwater that must be dealt with. Agriculture, while grazing has become less common, other potentially water intensive crops have become more popular, such as fruit trees and grapes in orchards and vineyards. Agriculture, in addition to the area's naturally scenic qualities, has also increased tourism and recreational use. The population in the area is seasonal and places greater demand on the water system during the time of the year when supplies are most scarce: summer and fall.
Has the potential to reduce the water available for storage, and the area has few other water resources, with many areas remote enough to be isolated from the piping required to supply water from the rest of the. Purple pipe used for reclaim water in new homes. EID is addressing future water use in several ways. Municipal conservation is important in reducing demand. Encouraging water saving appliances, faucets, toilets, and shower heads will reduce municipal use without requiring the public to ration their water. Leak detection and piping improvements are also being used to reduce the water lost in the distribution system.
The most important water conservation measure may be the reuse of wastewater, also called, for urban landscaping and golf courses. As the area develops, more wastewater is produced. By reusing the water for irrigation municipal water use is greatly reduced, as nearly half of most residential water use goes to landscaping. See also. References.
Logging activity is going on throughout the park. Please use extreme caution while in the park. Some campsites may not be available or may change due to tree removal. If you have questions please contact the Reservation Office at 530-295-6810. Sly Park Recreation Area is a wonderful place to bring the whole family for an unforgettable camping experience. The park features 10 campgrounds that contain a total of 191 individual sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and barbecue.
Vault toilets and water faucets are conveniently located throughout the campgrounds. Sites will accommodate tents as well as RV's up to 40'. You can view site descriptions to determine which site will fit your needs by going to our online page, or if you prefer, call the Reservation Office at 530-295-6810. Reservations for individual campsites are accepted year round and up to 14 months in advance. Campsites are grouped by site type (or category) within our reservation system. Below is a description of the different site types. Pictures of campsites can be found in the navigation bar to the left.
ADA Sites Regular sites with ADA amenities are located in Jenkinson and Hazel Creek (site #141). Jenkinson offers ADA accessible tent campsites that are popular with all visitors. Hazel Creek is located at the back of the park away from the water, offering a nice woodsy experience.
Waterview and Family sites with ADA amenities are located in Sierra (sites #70, #70A and #70C). Regular Sites Regular sites can be found throughout the park in nine (9) campgrounds. Pinecone, Sierra, and Chimney campgrounds are the closest to the water and can be the most congested. Hilltop is less congested and accommodates some larger motor homes. Hazel, Rainbow, Kamloop, and Dogwood, located at the back of the park away from the water, offer a nice woodsy experience.
Return man 6 linebacker position. Stonebraker, adjacent to the boat launch parking lot, offers only four (4) campsites away from other campgrounds. Pinecone Strip These very popular sites are just a few steps from the lake and have water views.
Sites are tent only: parking spurs are not level enough for campers or trailers of any kind. No discounts apply to these sites. Waterview Sites Waterview sites are located in Pine Cone, Sierra, and Chimney camps. These very popular sites are close to the lake and have water views. Boats can be beached close to campsites. No discounts apply to these sites. Family Sites Family sites are located in the Pinecone Strip and Sierra campgrounds.
Sly Park Recreation Area
These sites are larger to accommodate family groups. Fees paid at the time the reservation is made apply to the first vehicle only.
Fees for additional vehicles, boats, or pets must be paid with cash or credit card on arrival. Cancellations for individual campsites are allowed up to 4 days prior to your arrival. Cancellation fee is $15. Reservation and change fees are not refundable. Please note: No domestic animals or diapers are allowed in the water or streams of Jenkinson Lake.
From the trail head, the trail starts on single track through the woods, and frequently borders the lake. This single track session lasts for about 5 miles, and criss-crosses a horse trail. The horse trails are not open to bikes, and are clearly marked, so there should be no problem there. After about four miles, right after a bridge spanning Park Creek, you will come to a cross roads. If you go right, you will come to a nice waterfall, and pool. This is a good place to take a cool dip on hot days, the pool is MUCH cooler than the lake!
If you go straight at the cross roads, you will find a half mile fire road climb, rewarded by a fast fire road downhill with a couple of fun jumps. If a left is taken at the cross roads, you will take a rolling single track trail, which meets up with the fire road after about a mile. Once trails meet up, you enter into the main park area, at the Hazel Creek campground.
At this point, the trail goes in and out of the various campgrounds, and is in part single track, double track, and occasionally on the paved road. Keep an eye open for trail signs, as you go in and out of these sections. They are all marked, but it is easy to miss a turn, and have to retrace your route a little bit. I usually camp here several times a year, and stay at the Hazel Creek campground.
This allows me to start at the single track, and ride the trail backwards, and make it an out-and-back, with single track the whole way, instead of a loop. Review: Bumpy Meadows is the El Dorado Irrigation District trail which goes around Sly Park Reservoir, also known as Jenkinson Lake.
You can access the Bumpy Meadows trailhead from Mormon Emmigrant Trail Rd (past the second dam) parking is $5.00 0R park on Mormon Emmigrant and ride in for free! Part of the trail goes through camp grounds and is a fairly easy ride. The singletrack portion of this ride is true singletrack and not for beginners in more than a few areas. Logging in the area has made for some 'interesting' riding. It is easy to lose the trail in the first couple of miles from the Bumpy Meadows Trailhead due to the recent logging but this is also some of the most fun riding!
There are some steep downgrades with loose granite rock so exercise caution.you don't want to hit these sections blind which can happen! The trail condition has deteriorated and needs some maintenance. It is definitely no longer a 'beginners' trail in some areas. I'll be riding the section from the Bumpy Meadows trailhead to the falls and back as an out and back on my next ride and will post more photos then. This seems to be the part of the trail that most 'air' people like.
Review edited 8/1/2012. Review edited 8/1/2012. Review edited 8/5/2012.
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My son and I have been coming here once or twice a year for several years. It has a nice waterfall that is accessible by a one mile walk or bike ride from a day use parking area. The lake is usually p.
Retty warm once summer is in full swing and recently it's been very full. We usually go on weekdays and leave on Friday as it is filling up for the weekend.
We like to get one of the nicer sites on pine cone strip that are pricey but area right along the lake. There are plenty of other sites though which are more reasonably priced. Firewood is available from camp hosts and it's kept clean and maintained well. A lot of trees were cut recently. Bugs I was told. It unfortunat ely took some shade trees with it in aforementi oned pine cone strip area but we got a shade canopy to compensate and still can't beat the view from those sites. We ride bikes but the terrain varies from nice smooth trails to narrow steep and rough.
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Any route you plan will provably have some of both. Sly Park is very beautiful. Campground we stayed in was very nice. Rangers cleaned the out house at noon each day and stocked it with paper and they also came around in addition to check on the camper. S and asked if we needed anything. Had some loud neighbors but nothing passed midnight except the geese.
Boats seemed to speed by but I don't know the speed limit so I couldn't accurately say if it was over the limit. Did see some littering but people should know to pick up after themselves which could potentiall y cause admission increases. Over all great location for family camping.
Oh and cash only. (They don't pay credit card fee that way.).