[1] It impounds North Shirttail Creek, a tributary of the North Fork American River, and serves as the primary municipal water supply for the Foresthill community.

The dam was authorized in 1965 as part of the Auburn-Folsom South Unit of the Central Valley Project.

The project was transferred to the Foresthill Public Utility District for operation and maintenance in 1984.

[1] In 2003, the Foresthill Public Utility District purchased Sugar Pine Dam, reservoir, and the pipeline from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for $3.1 million.

[3] This article incorporates public domain material from Auburn-Folsom South Unit Project.