Clear Lake Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clear Lake Reservoir |
|
|---|---|
 Clear Lake Reservoir
Location in California
Clear Lake Reservoir
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Modoc County, California |
| Coordinates | 41°51′36″N 121°08′46″W / 41.860°N 121.146°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Lost River |
| Primary outflows | Lost River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 25,760 acres (10,420 ha) |
| Water volume | 527,000 acre⋅ft (0.650 km3) |
Clear Lake Reservoir is a large, human-made lake in northern California. It is located in Modoc County, California, within the Modoc National Forest. This reservoir is an important part of the Klamath Project, which helps manage water resources in the Klamath Basin.
The reservoir is about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Alturas. It was created by the Clear Lake Dam on the Lost River. The Lost River is a branch of the larger Klamath River. Clear Lake Reservoir can hold a huge amount of water, about 527,000 acre-feet (650 million cubic meters). It's important not to confuse this reservoir with Clear Lake, which is a natural lake in Lake County, California.
Contents
What is Clear Lake Dam?
The Clear Lake Dam is the structure that holds back the water to form Clear Lake Reservoir. The first dam was built from rock in 1910. It was about 42 feet (13 meters) tall. Over time, this old dam started to wear out. To keep people safe, the water level in the reservoir had to be kept low.
A New Dam for Water Safety
Because the old dam was getting weak, a new concrete dam was built nearby in 2002. The new dam is the same height as the old one. This means the reservoir can hold the same amount of water. There is also a small power plant at the dam. It uses the water to make electricity, producing 3 megawatts of power. The United States Bureau of Reclamation owns and manages this dam.
Why Was the Dam Built?
The main reason for building the dam and reservoir was to control water flow. It helps reduce the amount of water flowing into the Tule Lake area. This area includes important wetlands and the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The dam also provides water for farming in the eastern part of the Klamath Basin. This water is used for irrigation, helping crops grow.
How Does the Reservoir Work?
Clear Lake Reservoir has a very large surface area. It covers about 25,760 acres (104.2 square kilometers). However, it's not very deep, usually only about 20 feet (6 meters) at its fullest. Because it's so wide and shallow, a lot of water evaporates, especially on hot days.
Evaporation Challenges
In 1998, for example, about 74,500 acre-feet (92 million cubic meters) of water evaporated from the reservoir. This was more than any other lake in California, except for Shasta Lake. Shasta Lake is much bigger, holding over eight times more water. Because of this high evaporation rate, Clear Lake Reservoir is not the most efficient place to store water for long periods.
Recreation at Clear Lake Reservoir
The reservoir is located within the Modoc National Forest and the Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge. These areas are protected to help wildlife. Because of this, there are not many places for people to go boating or fishing. The focus here is on protecting nature.
