Black Butte Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Butte Lake |
|
|---|---|
Black Butte Dam and Lake
|
|
 Black Butte Lake
Location in California
Black Butte Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Glenn / Tehama counties, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°48′21″N 122°21′28″W / 39.80583°N 122.35778°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Stony Creek |
| Primary outflows | Stony Creek |
| Catchment area | 741 square miles (1,920 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 7 mi (11.3 km) |
| Surface area | 4,460 acres (1,800 ha) |
| Water volume | 143,700 acre-feet (177,300,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 40 miles (64 km) |
| Surface elevation | 512 feet (156 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Black Butte Lake is a large, man-made lake in California, United States. It is located in Tehama and Glenn counties. This lake was created in 1963. It was formed when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished building the Black Butte Dam. The dam is about 9 miles (14 km) west of Orland.
When the lake is full, it stretches about 7 miles (11 km) long. It has a shoreline of 40 miles (64 km). The surface area of the lake covers 4,460 acres (18.05 km2). The main reason for building the dam and lake was to protect nearby towns and farms from floods.
About Black Butte Lake
Black Butte Lake is a reservoir, which means it's an artificial lake. It was built to hold water from Stony Creek. The water flows into the lake from Stony Creek and also flows out into the same creek.
Why Was the Lake Built?
The main purpose of Black Butte Lake is flood protection. Before the dam was built, heavy rains could cause Stony Creek to overflow. This would flood homes and farms in the area. The dam helps control the water flow. It stores excess water during storms. This protects communities downstream from flooding.
Fishing at Black Butte Lake
Many people enjoy fishing at Black Butte Lake. However, it's important to know about a special warning. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has shared advice about eating fish from this lake. They suggest being careful because of higher levels of mercury found in some fish. It's always a good idea to check the latest safety guidelines before eating fish caught here.
