{{Distinguish|Salt Spring Valley Reservoir}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox lake | name = Salt Springs Reservoir | image = Salt_Springs_Reservoir,_California_(21384748818).jpg | caption = Aerial view | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Amador / Calaveras counties, California, United States | coords = {{coord|38|29|55|N|120|12|54|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} | type = reservoir | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = United States | length = | width = | area = | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|3900|ft|m|abbr=on}} | islands = | cities = Tamarack <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = California#USA | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Salt Springs Reservoir in California, USA. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = | reference = }} '''Salt Springs Reservoir''' is a reservoir in the eastern portions of Amador County and Calaveras County of California in the Sierra Nevada about {{convert|30|mi|km}} east-northeast of Jackson. The reservoir is in the Eldorado National Forest at an elevation of {{convert|3900|ft|m}}.

The {{convert|141,900|acre.foot|m3}} reservoir is formed by '''Salt Springs Dam''' on the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. The concrete-faced rock-fill dam is {{convert|332|ft|m}} tall and was completed in {{start date and age|1931|p=y}}. It is owned by Pacific Gas and Electric and its sole purpose is hydroelectricity production, though limited recreation is available. A short pipeline from the reservoir conveys water to the 44 MW Salt Springs Powerhouse. Some of the water is returned to the river downstream, but much of it flows into the Tiger Creek Conduit, a concrete flume that moves water downstream for use in other powerhouses in PG&E's Mokelumne River Project (FERC Project 137).

The dam has a history of settlement problems caused by poor consolidation of the rocks during construction. The concrete face has been cracked many times by the movement, causing leaks. The surface of the dam consists of cracks, craters and shotcrete overlays. It was decided to use a flexible geomembrane to cover the portions of the dam with the greatest leakage. The installation of the membrane was completed in 2005.

The dam is being examined as the lower pool in a 380-1,140 MW pumped-storage project with the Bear River Dam as the upper pool.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/10/ferc-seeks-input-on-app-for-1-140-mw-greengenstorage-pumped-storage-hydro-project.html |title=FERC Seeks Input on App for 1,140-MW GreenGenStorage Pumped Storage Hydro Project|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2016}}</ref>

==Climate== {{Weather box |location = Salt Springs Reservoir |single line = Y | Jan record high F = 74 | Feb record high F = 78 | Mar record high F = 82 | Apr record high F = 90 | May record high F = 95 | Jun record high F = 100 | Jul record high F = 103 | Aug record high F = 105 | Sep record high F = 103 | Oct record high F = 97 | Nov record high F = 84 | Dec record high F = 80 | year record high F = | Jan high F = 53.9 | Feb high F = 56.3 | Mar high F = 61.1 | Apr high F = 65.7 | May high F = 74.2 | Jun high F = 82.9 | Jul high F = 89.8 | Aug high F = 89.9 | Sep high F = 84.8 | Oct high F = 74.5 | Nov high F = 59.9 | Dec high F = 52.9 | year high F =

| Jan low F = 34.7 | Feb low F = 35.2 | Mar low F = 36.7 | Apr low F = 39.7 | May low F = 46.6 | Jun low F = 53.7 | Jul low F = 60.3 | Aug low F = 60.3 | Sep low F = 55.5 | Oct low F = 47.8 | Nov low F = 40.2 | Dec low F = 33.9 | year low F =

| Jan record low F = 10 | Feb record low F = 11 | Mar record low F = 14 | Apr record low F = 18 | May record low F = 27 | Jun record low F = 33 | Jul record low F = 41 | Aug record low F = 40 | Sep record low F = 33 | Oct record low F = 22 | Nov record low F = 12 | Dec record low F = -1 | year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 8.12 | Feb precipitation inch = 7.71 | Mar precipitation inch = 7.16 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.05 | May precipitation inch = 2.61 | Jun precipitation inch = 0.80 | Jul precipitation inch = 0.14 | Aug precipitation inch = 0.06 | Sep precipitation inch = 1.01 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.14 | Nov precipitation inch = 6.29 | Dec precipitation inch = 7.80 | year precipitation inch =

| Jan snow inch = 11.9 | Feb snow inch = 12.7 | Mar snow inch = 13.4 | Apr snow inch = 3.5 | May snow inch = 0.1 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 0.2 | Nov snow inch = 2.2 | Dec snow inch = 5.6 | year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 9.5 |Feb precipitation days = 9.7 |Mar precipitation days = 12.6 |Apr precipitation days = 7.9 |May precipitation days = 5.8 |Jun precipitation days = 4.0 |Jul precipitation days = 1.3 |Aug precipitation days = 1.2 |Sep precipitation days = 3.7 |Oct precipitation days = 5.5 |Nov precipitation days = 10.1 |Dec precipitation days = 9.2

|unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 2.5 |Feb snow days = 2.3 |Mar snow days = 2.9 |Apr snow days = 0.8 |May snow days = 0.1 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 0.1 |Nov snow days = 1.0 |Dec snow days = 2.2 |source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00047689&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title= Salt Springs Reservoir, CA |access-date=November 29, 2015 |publisher=NOAA }}</ref> |date=November 2015 }}

==See also== *List of dams and reservoirs in California *List of lakes in California

==References== {{Reflist}} *{{gnis|273425}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051122192626/http://bartleby.com/69/53/M08953.html Columbia Gazetteer of North America] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928083232/http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?sectionCode=46&storyCode=2034837 International Water Power and Dam Construction]

Category:Reservoirs in Amador County, California Category:Reservoirs in Calaveras County, California Category:Lakes of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Category:Mokelumne River Category:Eldorado National Forest Category:Reservoirs in Northern California Category:Dams completed in 1931 Category:1931 establishments in California