The reservoir was built in with the construction on the Middle Fork of the American River of the L. L. Anderson Dam. The
dam is rock-fill with earth core. The capacity of the reservoir is of water. French Meadows Reservoir is part of the Middle Fork Project for hydroelectric power generation and most of its water is diverted to the French Meadows Powerhouse, located along the north shore of
Hell Hole Reservoir, by a tunnel. Releases from French Meadows Reservoir to the powerhouse began one year later, December 13, 1965. A minimal "fish flow" is released into the natural waterway of the Middle Fork of the American River for fish and wildlife habitat considerations. The project is operated by the Placer County Water Agency. In September 2022, the area surrounding the reservoir was closed by the forest service due to the
Mosquito Fire. ==See also==