French Lake Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids French Lake Reservoir |
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 French Lake Reservoir
Location in California
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| Location | Nevada County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°25′15″N 120°32′32″W / 39.420700°N 120.542248°W |
| Built | 1859, reconstructed 1948 |
| Max. length | 300 feet (91 m) |
| Surface area | 1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi) |
| Water volume | Max 17,000,000 m3 (14,000 acre⋅ft) |
French Lake Reservoir is a large body of water located in Nevada County, California. A reservoir is like a big, artificial lake. It is used to store water for many important purposes. This reservoir is known by its official ID number, CA00247.
French Lake Dam: A Historic Structure
The reservoir was created by building the French Lake Dam. This dam is made of earth and rocks. It was first built a very long time ago, in 1859. This makes it one of the earliest dams to use rock-fill construction. Rock-fill means it was built using a lot of rocks to make it strong.
Dam Reconstruction and Purpose
The dam was rebuilt in 1948 to make it even stronger and more modern. It holds back the water from Canyon Creek. The dam helps with several important things:
- Flood Control: It stops too much water from flowing downstream and causing floods.
- Water Storage: It stores water for farms (irrigation) and for people to drink.
- Hydropower: It helps create electricity using the force of the water.
The French Lake Dam is about 100 feet (30 m) (30 meters) tall. It stretches for about 300 feet (91 m) (91 meters) across the top. It is one of ten facilities managed by the Nevada Irrigation District. This district helps manage water resources for the area.
Size and Surroundings of the Reservoir
French Lake Reservoir covers a large area. Its surface area is about 337 acres (136 ha) (1.36 square kilometers). It can hold a maximum of 13,800 acre-feet (17,000,000 m3) (17 million cubic meters) of water.
The reservoir is surrounded by the beautiful Tahoe National Forest. This forest offers many outdoor activities. Near the reservoir, you can find the old townsite of French Lake, California. This place is now a ghost town. It was once a busy spot during the California Gold Rush era.
