This map shows modeled outdoor noise across El Dorado County at 100-meter resolution, combining road, aviation, and rail sources. Green areas measure below 45 dBA. Orange and red exceed the EPA's 55 dBA outdoor threshold linked to long-term health effects. Use the layer toggles to view each source on its own or all together.
What the numbers sound like
- 30 dBAWhisper
- 40 dBASoft rainfall
- 45 dBAQuiet suburban street at night
- 50 dBAQuiet office
- 55 dBAEPA outdoor threshold: light traffic 100 ft away
- 60 dBANormal conversation an arm's length away
- 65 dBABusy restaurant
- 70 dBAHighway traffic 50 ft away
- 80 dBACity bus interior
Population Above the EPA Outdoor Threshold
The EPA's 55 dBA outdoor reference level is a common benchmark for residential noise exposure, especially for activity interference, annoyance, and long-term community noise concerns. About 24,157 El Dorado County residents, or 14.7%, live above that level. By land area, 18.0% of El Dorado County is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in El Dorado County compares to similar-sized counties.
Noise by Part of El Dorado County
Average noise levels for El Dorado County residents, grouped by direction from the center of El Dorado County. The highest population-weighted average is in the South Lake Tahoe and Pollock Pines areas (eastern El Dorado County); the lowest is in the Georgetown area (northern El Dorado County), where just 0% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in the loudest section.
South Lake Tahoe & Pollock Pines
20% of people above 55 dBA
El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park & Placerville
11% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern El Dorado County
2% of people above 55 dBA
Cool
0% of people above 55 dBA
Georgetown
0% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in the South Lake Tahoe and Pollock Pines areas (eastern El Dorado County) sounds about 157% louder than in the Georgetown area (northern El Dorado County), a 13.6 dBA gap. Every 10 dBA roughly doubles perceived loudness. Within any of these directions, two homes a quarter mile apart can still differ by 10 or more dBA depending on how close they sit to a major highway.
How far back from El Dorado Fwy do you need to be?
El Dorado Fwy produces an estimated 78 dBA at its loudest centerline points. Noise drops logarithmically with distance, with the exact rate depending on what's between you and the road. Tree cover, walls, terrain, and pavement type all matter. At roughly a quarter mile back, traffic fades into the noise level of a quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 27% of El Dorado County sits under tree canopy (about average for counties) and roughly 18% is impervious surface like pavement and rooftops. Both are folded into the per-place decay rate above. Heavier canopy pulls noise down faster with distance; impervious surfaces slow the drop.