Hidden Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hensley Lake & Hidden Dam |
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 Hensley Lake & Hidden Dam
Location in California
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| Location | Madera County, California, United States. Near Raymond. |
| Coordinates | 37°06′40″N 119°53′04″W / 37.111025°N 119.884330°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Fresno River |
| Primary outflows | Fresno River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,500 acres (610 ha) |
| Water volume | 90,000 acre⋅ft (0.11 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 20 mi (32 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Hidden Dam is a large earthen dam built on the Fresno River. It is located in Madera County, California. This dam helps create a big lake called Hensley Lake.
Contents
Building Hidden Dam
Hidden Dam was built in 1974 by the Perini Corporation. It was part of a big plan by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This plan had several important goals.
Why Was the Dam Built?
The dam was built for three main reasons:
- Flood Control: It helps stop floods. When heavy rains come, the dam holds back extra water. This protects towns and farms downstream from flooding.
- Water Storage: It stores water for irrigation. Farmers use this water to grow crops, especially during dry times.
- Recreation: It created Hensley Lake, a fun place for people to visit and enjoy outdoor activities.
Dam's Size and Importance
Hidden Dam is quite large. It stands 184 feet (about 56 meters) tall. The top of the dam is 5730 feet (about 1.7 kilometers) long. It is the only major dam on the Fresno River that stores water.
Exploring Hensley Lake
Hensley Lake is the reservoir created by Hidden Dam. It's a popular spot for many activities.
Lake Features
The lake covers an area of about two and a half square miles. Its shoreline stretches for over twenty miles. This means there's lots of space to explore! The lake can hold a huge amount of water, up to 90,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot.
Fun Activities at the Lake
Hensley Lake opened for public use in 1978. Since then, it has been a favorite place for many outdoor adventures. You can enjoy:
- Water skiing
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Horseback riding
- Mountain biking
- Hiking
There's also a place called Hidden View Campground. You can go camping there all year round, either alone or with a group.
Who Was Hensley Lake Named After?
The lake is named after John Jackson Hensley. He was an early settler and cattle rancher in the local area.
Nearby Attractions
About 15 miles northwest of Hensley Lake, you can find another lake. It's called Eastman Lake. This lake was also created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
