Camanche Reservoir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camanche Reservoir
Camanche Reservoir as viewed from a passing airliner
Camanche Reservoir Location in California
Location	Amador, Calaveras and San Joaquin counties
Coordinates	38°13′25″N 121°00′00″W / 38.22361°N 121.00000°W / 38.22361; -121.00000
Type	reservoir
Primary outflows	Mokelumne River
Catchment area	619 square miles (1,600 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	5 miles (8.0 km)
Max. width	3 miles (4.8 km)
Surface area	7,700 acres (3,100 ha)
Max. depth	150 feet (46 m)
Water volume	417,120 acre-feet (514,510,000 m3)
Shore length1	53 miles (85 km)
Surface elevation	135 ft (41 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Camanche Reservoir is a large lake in California, USA. It's not a natural lake; it was made by building a dam called Camanche Dam in 1963. This lake helps provide water for homes and businesses. It also helps control floods. The lake is named after an old town, Camanche, which is now under the water. People sometimes call it Camanche Lake. There are fun places to visit all around the lake, especially on its North and South sides.

Exploring Camanche Lake

Camanche Reservoir has two main areas for visitors: the North Shore and the South Shore. Both offer lots of fun activities for families and groups.

North Shore Adventures

The North Shore of Camanche Reservoir is located in Amador County. About 1,000 people live in this area. It has nearly 800 campsites where you can set up a tent or park your RV. There's also a store and a small cafe at the North Shore Marina.

South Shore Fun

The South Shore of Camanche Reservoir also has many great places to visit. You'll find a store in the middle of the recreation area. There are two RV parks with full hook-ups for water, electricity, and sewer. An amphitheater is also located here, where many events are held.

How the Lake Works

Camanche Reservoir gets its water mainly from the Mokelumne River. Smaller streams like Rabbit Creek and Camanche Creek also feed into it. The amount of water in Camanche Reservoir depends on how much water is released from another dam, the Pardee Dam, upstream.

The reservoir usually fills up before summer. This happens because snow from the mountains melts between May and July. This melted snow flows into the Mokelumne River, making the lake full. During summer, Camanche Reservoir releases water steadily. This ensures that farms downstream always have water for their crops.

Water Levels and Drought

California has faced droughts, which are long periods with little rain. These droughts have affected the water levels in Camanche Reservoir. The lake can hold a lot of water, about 417,120 acre-feet. During a recent drought from 2011 to 2015, the water levels dropped a lot. This was because there was less rain and less snowmelt flowing into the river.

In August 2015, the water level was very low. It held only about 81,940 acre-feet of water, which is less than 20% of its full capacity. Luckily, water levels started to rise again during the winter of 2015-2016. By April 2016, the lake had much more water.

Helping Fish Thrive

When several dams were built on the Mokelumne River, it affected many fish. To help the fish, the Mokelumne River Hatchery was built in 1963. It's located downstream from Camanche Reservoir. This hatchery helps bring back the fish populations that used to live in the river.

The hatchery was updated in 2002. They made more space for raising young fish. This helps the fish stay healthy and survive better. These improvements have helped the number of salmon returning to the river increase a lot. The hatchery mainly raises two types of fish: Chinook salmon and Steelhead trout.

Animals and Plants Around the Lake

Camanche Reservoir is home to many different kinds of animals and plants. It's a great place for nature lovers!

Fish and Fishing

The reservoir has many types of fish, which makes it a popular spot for fishing. You can find different kinds of bass, trout, crappie, and catfish here.

Birds and Birdwatching

Many bird species live near the reservoir. Birdwatching is a fun activity at Camanche Reservoir. You can take self-guided walks or join a birdwatching tour. Some birds you might see include various ducks, Great Egrets, woodpeckers, Turkey Vultures, and sparrows. Many songbirds also live in the area.

Mammals

You can also find different mammals near the reservoir. Small mammals like squirrels and rodents are common. Deer often visit the area. Sometimes, you might even spot a bobcat, but they are usually shy and hard to see.

Plants and Trees

The plants around Camanche Reservoir are like those found in a Savannah woodland. It's called a California oak woodland community. These plants do well in places with hot, dry summers and occasional fires. Fires have been stopped more recently because of people living nearby.

The area has many oak trees, like the valley oak and blue oak. These trees often grow spread out instead of close together. Underneath the oak trees, you'll find various grasses, herbs, and shrubs. Many of these plants are native to California, but some grasses have been introduced from other places.

Weather at Camanche

Camanche Reservoir has a Mediterranean climate. This means it gets relatively little rain each year. Summers are warm to hot, and winters are cool and mild. Most of the rain falls during the winter months. In summer, the sun is very strong, and the air is usually not very humid.

The Land Around the Lake

The ground around Camanche Reservoir has different types of soil and slopes. The soil can be sandy loam, loam, or rocky land. Loam soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay. Sandy loams have more sand. The slopes vary from gentle (2%) to very steep (45%). In the higher areas near the reservoir, rocky soil is common. These soil types affect how water flows over the land and how it soaks into the ground. The shape of the land has also changed over time due to natural movements of the Earth's plates.

History of the Lake Area

Before the reservoir was built, three towns existed in this area: Camanche, Lancha Plana, and Poverty Bar. These communities started during the California Gold Rush. As the gold rush slowed down, the towns became smaller. Settlers from Iowa named the largest town "Camanche" after a town in their home state. Camanche remained a small town until the East Bay Municipal Utility District decided to build the dam and reservoir. The town was then evacuated, and the area became the lake we see today.

Fun Things to Do

Camanche Reservoir is a great place for outdoor activities! You can go boating, fishing, and waterskiing.

There are many shaded picnic areas around Camanche Recreation Area. These spots are perfect for families and groups to spend a day by the lake. Many of them are close to the lake's facilities. You can also enjoy scenic hiking and horseback riding trails. These trails wind through rolling hills and oak groves, offering some shade. You need a permit to use the trails, which you can buy at the gate. Both the North and South shores have courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball, plus playgrounds for kids.

The reservoir has over 500 campsites and 200 RV spots. Many campsites offer bathrooms, tables, heated showers, laundry facilities, and barbecues. These are open all year. If you don't want to camp in a tent, you can also rent cottages or motel rooms.

Camanche Reservoir is famous for bass and trout fishing. More than 50,000 pounds of trout are added to the reservoir each year! If you are over 16, you need a state fishing license and there's a small fishing fee. You can also rent boats at the reservoir. There are 8-lane boat launches on both shores. All boats entering the reservoir are checked to help stop the spread of tiny creatures called invasive Quagga Mussels.

An amphitheater at the reservoir hosts various events. Stores at each marina sell food and drinks. There's also the North Shore Café and the South Shore Marina Grill. Dogs are welcome at the reservoir for a small fee, but they must be on a leash.