Cherry Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cherry Lake |
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 Cherry Lake
Location in California
Cherry Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Stanislaus National Forest Tuolumne County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°00′05″N 119°54′17″W / 38.0013°N 119.9046°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Cherry Creek |
| Primary outflows | Cherry Creek |
| Catchment area | 114 sq mi (300 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,535 acres (621 ha) |
| Water volume | 273,500 acre⋅ft (337,400,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 1,420 m (4,660 ft) |
Cherry Lake, also known as Lake Lloyd, is a large artificial lake in Tuolumne County, California. It is located in the beautiful Stanislaus National Forest. The lake is about 25 miles (40 km) east of the city of Sonora.
Cherry Lake sits high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is at an elevation of about 4,700 feet (1,433 m). The lake is also very close to the western edge of Yosemite National Park. Cherry Lake was created by building the Cherry Valley Dam across Cherry Creek. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 273,500 acre⋅ft (337,400,000 m3)!
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Cherry Lake: A Cool Mountain Reservoir
Cherry Lake is an important part of a big project called the Hetch Hetchy Project. This project helps supply drinking water to many homes. It provides water to the San Francisco Bay Area, Modesto, and Turlock districts.
Where Does the Water Come From?
The water in Cherry Lake comes from Cherry Creek. This creek has three main parts: the East, West, and North forks.
- All three forks start in the Emigrant Wilderness.
- They all flow generally towards the southwest.
- The North Fork begins at Emigrant Lake, which is very high up at 8,800 ft (2,680 m).
- The East Fork flows into Huckleberry Lake before joining the North Fork.
- The East and West forks of Cherry Creek meet just before reaching Cherry Lake.
- Another creek, Eleanor Creek, flows into Cherry Creek downstream from the dam. Eleanor Creek forms Lake Eleanor, which is also part of the Hetch Hetchy Project.
- Finally, Cherry Creek flows into the Tuolumne River.
How Cherry Lake Was Made
Cherry Lake was formed by the Cherry Valley Dam.
- The dam is made of earth and rock.
- It stands 315 ft (96 m) tall above the original streambed.
- The dam was built by the City and County of San Francisco along with the Modesto Irrigation District and Turlock Irrigation District.
- Construction of the dam was finished in 1956.
Fun Things to Do at Cherry Lake
Cherry Lake is a popular spot for outdoor fun!
- You can go boating on the lake.
- Many people enjoy skiing on the water.
- Swimming is allowed in the lake. This is because the water is filtered before it's used for drinking.
- Fishing is also a favorite activity here.
The water from Cherry Lake also helps make electricity. It powers the Dion R. Holm Power Plant. This plant is a 165 MW hydroelectric facility. This means it uses the force of moving water to create electricity.
Cherry Valley Campground
If you want to stay overnight, the Cherry Valley Campground is a great option.
- Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Each campsite has picnic tables and fire rings. Many fire rings have grates for cooking.
- Some sites offer amazing views of the lake.
- The roads through the campground are paved, making it easy to get around.
- There are bathroom facilities, but no showers.
- Running water is available every few campsites.
