Lake Amador facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Amador |
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 Lake Amador
Location in California
Lake Amador
Location in the United States
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| Location | Amador County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°18′12″N 120°53′22″W / 38.30333°N 120.88944°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Jackson Creek |
| Catchment area | 58 sq mi (150 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Built | 1965 |
| Surface area | 385 acres (156 ha) |
| Water volume | 22,000 acre-feet (27,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 325 feet (99 m) |
Lake Amador is a large reservoir located in Amador County, California. It's a human-made lake that plays an important role in the area. This beautiful lake is located about 325 feet above sea level.
What is Lake Amador?
Lake Amador is not a natural lake. It's a special type of lake called a reservoir. Reservoirs are built to store water for many uses. They can provide drinking water for towns and cities. They also help with farming by supplying water for crops. Sometimes, reservoirs are used to generate electricity. They can even help control floods. Lake Amador helps store water for the people and farms in its region.
Building the Jackson Creek Dam
The water in Lake Amador is held back by a structure called the Jackson Creek Dam. This dam was built in 1965. It is a very strong dam made from earth and rocks. The Jackson Creek Dam stands about 193 feet tall. It was constructed across a waterway known as Jackson Creek.
The dam is quite long, stretching about 1,140 feet across the land. It is also about 11 feet wide. A huge amount of material, around 1,223,000 cubic yards, was used to build it. The very top of the dam, called its crest, is about 481 feet above sea level. The Jackson Valley Irrigation District is in charge of managing and taking care of this important dam.
