Silver Lake Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver Lake Reservoir Complex |
|
|---|---|
View to the northwest across lower reservoir
|
|
 Silver Lake Reservoir Complex
Location in California
Silver Lake Reservoir Complex
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California |
| Coordinates | 34°06′04″N 118°15′54″W / 34.10107°N 118.26495°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.2 km (0.75 mi) |
| Max. width | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
| Surface area | 39 hectares (96 acres) |
| Water volume | 3,000,000 m3 (2,400 acre⋅ft) |
| Shore length1 | 3.2 km (2.0 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 433 ft (132 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Silver Lake Reservoir Complex is a cool spot in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, California. It's made up of two big, concrete-lined pools: Ivanhoe Reservoir and Silver Lake. A spillway divides them. These reservoirs used to hold lots of water for the city.
Contents
History of the Silver Lake Reservoirs
The lower part of the complex, Silver Lake, got its name in 1906. It was named after Herman Silver, who was a commissioner on the Water Board. The whole neighborhood then took its name from the lake.
The upper part, Ivanhoe, was named after a famous book. It's called Ivanhoe, a novel written by Sir Walter Scott in 1819.
Who Owns and Uses the Reservoirs?
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) owns and takes care of these reservoirs. They were once super important for supplying water to homes. They could provide water to many parts of Los Angeles, like downtown and South Los Angeles.
Today, only the smaller Ivanhoe Reservoir is still used for water supply. It can hold about 3 million cubic meters of water when full. The water that used to come from Silver Lake Reservoir now comes from a new, underground reservoir. This new reservoir is called the Headworks Reservoir. It's located north of Griffith Park.
A Community Hub
The reservoir area is a central part of the Silver Lake community. It has become a popular place for people to relax and have fun. There are several cool spots around it:
- A dog park on the south side for furry friends.
- A nursery school on the north side.
- The Silver Lake Recreation Center, which has a basketball court.
There's also a walking and jogging path that goes all the way around the reservoir. It's about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long. In 2011, a new park called the "Silver Lake Meadow" opened. It's a peaceful, three-acre park on the east side of the lake. It was designed to be like the famous Sheep Meadow in New York's Central Park.
Keeping the Water Safe
In 2007, something happened that changed how the reservoirs were used. The DWP found high levels of a chemical called bromate in both Silver Lake and Ivanhoe reservoirs. Bromate can be harmful, so the reservoirs were immediately closed off.
To fix this, both reservoirs were drained in 2008. Then they were refilled a few months later.
The Story of the Shade Balls
To help prevent bromate from forming again, something unique was done. About 400,000 black, hollow plastic shade balls were placed in Ivanhoe Reservoir. These balls float on the water's surface. They block sunlight, which helps stop bromate from forming. Ivanhoe Reservoir still uses these shade balls today.
Because of this issue, Silver Lake Reservoir was permanently taken out of water supply use. This event showed how important it is to protect our drinking water. Using underground tanks is a good way to keep water safe.
The first shade balls were made in Pennsylvania. They are also used at airports to keep birds away from water. This helps prevent birds from flying into airplane engines. The balls are certified to be safe for water. Later, in 2013, more shade balls were bought for other reservoirs in Los Angeles.
What's Next for the Silver Lake Reservoir Complex?
Since 2018, people in the community have been working together to plan the future of the reservoir complex. They want to decide how to best use the area. The goal is to create a "Master Plan." This plan will help guide improvements and protect the reservoirs.
The plan aims to balance many things:
- Keeping the historic feel of the area.
- Making it a great place for the community to gather.
- Using its special location in Silver Lake.
- Combining its original purpose with new recreational spaces.
The Master Plan was finished in August 2020. Many groups helped create it. These included the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy, Silver Lake Forward, Silver Lake Now, and Silver Lake Wildlife Sanctuary.
