Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area facts for kids

Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area (CCRRA) is a fun regional park in Castro Valley, Alameda County, California. It's a part of the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) system. This park offers many outdoor activities for families and friends to enjoy.

Cool Water Fun at Cull Canyon

Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area has a lake for fishing. It also has a special swimming area. This swim area is a 1.5 acres (0.0061 km²) lagoon. It was created by building a dam on San Lorenzo Creek.

Swim Lagoon Features

The swim area is great for everyone. It has a bathhouse, grassy lawns, and sandy beaches. There's also lots of shallow water, perfect for younger kids. In 1966, the lagoon won an award. It was called the "Governor's Design Award for Exceptional Distinction." This award was for its great design for recreation.

When to Swim

The swim area is open only during certain times of the year. It usually opens for swimming in the warmer months. When it's open, the area is fenced. There are also lifeguards on duty to keep everyone safe. Remember, dogs are not allowed inside the swimming area.

The Lake's Sediment Story

The lake at Cull Canyon, called Cull Creek Reservoir, has faced a challenge. Over many years, tons of dirt and sand, called sediment, built up in it. This sediment made the lake much shallower.

Why the Lake Got Shallow

The dam was built in 1963. Since then, sediment has been flowing into the lake. It comes from the surrounding land. By 2014, the water in the lake was only about 6 feet (1.8 m) deep. This was a big change from its original depth of 30 feet (9.1 m). The sediment caused problems for the fish. The park even stopped adding new fish to the lake.

Finding a Solution

Engineers looked for ways to fix the problem. One idea was to remove all the sediment. This would be very expensive and take many truck trips. A simpler solution was found in 2006. Engineers added a pipe to the dam's spillway. This pipe helped lower the water level in the lake.

A New Plan for the Lake

Alameda County engineers suggested a different plan. They proposed to "notch" the reservoir's weir. A weir is like a small dam. Notching it would let water flow downstream. This would leave the sediment behind. This plan would be much cheaper. It would also remove the safety concern. The state would no longer consider it a dam if it didn't hold back water.

Hiking Adventures

If you love to hike, Cull Canyon has trails for you. The Chabot-to-Garin Regional Trail passes through the park. This trail is also part of the larger Bay Area Ridge Trail.

Exploring the Trails

The Chabot-to-Garin trail runs along the east side of the Cull Canyon reservoir. From there, it goes north for about 6 miles (9.7 km). It leads through land owned by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). The trail ends at EBMUD's Chabot staging area on Redwood Road. From this point, you can connect to another trail. The Willow View Trail leads into Anthony Chabot Regional Park.

See also

In Spanish: Área de recreación regional Cañón Cull para niños