Mountain Meadows Reservoir

Mountain Meadows Reservoir
Mountain Meadows Reservoir can be seen at right in this satellite image. Lake Almanor at left.
Location of Mountain Meadows Reservoir in California, USA.
Location of Mountain Meadows Reservoir in California, USA.
Mountain Meadows Reservoir
Location of Mountain Meadows Reservoir in California, USA.
Location of Mountain Meadows Reservoir in California, USA.
Mountain Meadows Reservoir
LocationLassen County, California[1]
Coordinates40°16′11″N 120°57′38″W / 40.26972°N 120.96056°W / 40.26972; -120.96056[1]
Typereservoir
Primary outflowsHamilton Creek[2]
Catchment area163.1 square miles (422 km2)[2]
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length5 miles (8.0 km)
Max. width2 miles (3.2 km)
Surface area5,800 acres (2,300 ha)[2]
Water volume24,800 acre-feet (30,600,000 m3)[2]
Surface elevation5,046 feet (1,538 m)[1]
SettlementsWestwood, California

Mountain Meadows Reservoir is an artificial lake, located in Lassen County, California. The lake is also known as Walker Lake.[3] Its waters are impounded by the Indian Ole Dam, which was completed in 1924 (101 years ago) (1924).

Hydrology

The lake is fed by Robbers Creek, Goodrich Creek, Duffy Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Mountain Meadows Creek, Greenville Creek, and Deerheart Creek. It discharges into Hamilton Creek,[2] which feeds Lake Almanor.

Indian Ole Dam

Indian Ole Dam is a flashboard and buttress dam, it is 264 feet (80 m) long and 26 feet (7.9 m) high, with 8 feet (2.4 m) of freeboard. Pacific Gas and Electric Company owns the dam[2] and manages the surrounding lands.[3]

History

Cultural remnants of both the American pioneers and the Maidu exist near the reservoir and other sites are believed to exist beneath its waters.[3]

As of September 13, 2015, the reservoir was completely dry, resulting in the death of perhaps thousands of fish.[4]

Recreation

Recreational uses of the lake include duck hunting, bird watching, fishing, and ice-skating.[5] Near the dam there is a boat ramp, which is accessible by way of a County-maintained gravel road.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Mountain Meadows Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (H-M)" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "Mountain Meadows Reservoir Planning Unit" (PDF). Watershed Lands Stewardship Council.
  4. ^ Johnson, Susan Cort. Mountain Meadows Reservoir empties stranding fish . Plumas County News September 25, 2015. http://www.plumasnews.com/index.php/14354-mountain-meadows-reservoir-empties-stranding-fish. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "About Mountain Meadows".