French Dam and Lake (elevation 6,660 feet)

A serene view of French Reservoir surrounded by rocky hills and trees, reflecting the clear blue sky on calm waters.

French is an instream dam and lake on Canyon Creek in the South Yuba watershed. The nearest city is Kingvale (9.18 miles).

The dam was constructed in 1859 and raised in 1948. Standing at 100 feet tall and 200 feet long, it is a concrete-faced rock fill dam with a capacity of 13,940 acre-feet. The typical low level is 7,000 acre-feet.

NID has pre-1914 water rights that allow for storage of 13,940 acre-feet.

The District maintains environmental flows to Canyon Creek currently required at 2.5 cubic feet per second. There is no power generation.

Recreation: French supports walk-in dispersed camping.

A scenic landscape featuring a reservoir, rocky terrain, a wall, and clear water under a blue sky with gentle clouds.
A historic black-and-white photo showing a stone dam and a body of water, with two men standing nearby on rocky terrain.
In the 1920s, NID Directors Robinson and Schwartz (right) survey French Dam and Lake.
Map showing the Mountain Division South Yuba Upper area with locations of lakes, powerhouses, and rivers, highlighting French Lake.

 

Join our mailing list