Collins Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collins Lake |
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| Virginia Ranch Reservoir | |
View from the Hillside
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 Collins Lake
Location in California
Collins Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Yuba County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°20′15.44″N 121°19′37.64″W / 39.3376222°N 121.3271222°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Dry Creek, runoff |
| Primary outflows | Dry Creek, irrigation |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4.60 km (2.86 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.85 km (1.15 mi) |
| Surface area | 3.55 km2 (1.37 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 40 m (130 ft) |
| Water volume | 57,000 acre⋅ft (70,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 361 m (1,184 ft) |
Collins Lake is a large, man-made lake in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is located north of Sacramento, California. The lake covers about 1,009 acres (4.08 km²).
When it was being built, it was called Virginia Ranch Reservoir. The lake was first made to help local farms. It provided water for irrigation in areas like Browns Valley and Loma Rica. Today, Collins Lake is still used for farming water. It is also a popular spot for fun activities like fishing and camping.
Contents
How Collins Lake Was Created
The Need for Water
The Browns Valley Irrigation District (BVID) was started in 1888. This group helped manage water for farms. Over time, farms in the area needed more and more water. The amount of water available was not enough.
Planning the Dam
As early as 1919, BVID began looking for ways to get more water. They thought about building a dam on the water flowing through Virginia Ranch. This dam would create a large lake. It would help provide enough water for Browns Valley and Loma Rica.
In 1950, a plan was approved for a dam about 105 feet (32 meters) tall. This dam would create a reservoir holding 35,000 acre-feet of water. However, the project cost $1.36 million and took five years to plan. There wasn't enough money to start building it at that time.
Building the Lake
Ten years later, in 1960, a loan of $4.8 million was approved. This allowed for a bigger project. They planned to build a 152-foot (46-meter) tall embankment dam. This new dam would create a lake that could hold 57,000 acre-feet of water.
The dam, called Virginia Ranch Dam, was finished in just three years. This created Collins Lake. The lake was named after Merle Collins. He was a very important person who helped make the project happen.
Fun at the Lake
In 1967, a company called Pineland Development started offering fun activities at the lake. They set up areas for camping and recreation. Since 1972, a family has run these services. They have made the campground bigger.
Now, there are 109 RV hookup campsites. There are also many places for tent camping. The camping and day-use areas have gates. They open at dawn (sunrise) every day of the year.
