Lake Chabot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Chabot |
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 Lake Chabot
Location in California
Lake Chabot
Location in the United States
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| Location | Alameda County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°43′47″N 122°7′18″W / 37.72972°N 122.12167°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | San Leandro Creek |
| Primary outflows | San Leandro Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 315 acres (127 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 243 ft (74 m) |
| Islands | 1 |
| Settlements | Oakland, California |
Lake Chabot is a large, man-made lake located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It covers about 317 acres (1.28 square kilometers). A small part of the lake is within Oakland, but most of it is in Castro Valley. This lake was created by building a dam across San Leandro Creek. It was finished in 1875 to provide fresh water to the East Bay area.
To keep people safe, there are special rules about eating fish caught in Lake Chabot. These rules are based on tests for mercury levels in the fish.
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History of Lake Chabot
The dam that created Lake Chabot was built between 1874 and 1875. Its main purpose was to supply water to the growing communities in the East Bay. When it was first built, the dam and the lake were called the San Leandro Reservoir.
Later, another dam was built further up San Leandro Creek. This created a new lake called Upper San Leandro Reservoir. Because of this, the original Lake Chabot was renamed Lower San Leandro Reservoir for a while.
Exploring Lake Chabot
For 91 years, people were not allowed to use Lake Chabot for fun activities. But in the 1960s, new laws made it possible to open the lake for controlled recreation. Today, Lake Chabot is still an important backup water supply for emergencies. Because of this, visitors need to follow certain rules to help keep the water clean and safe.
Safety at the Lake
During the summer and fall, tiny living things called blue-green algae can grow in the lake. These algae can be harmful if you touch the water. So, it's important to be careful and follow all safety signs.
Fun Activities at Lake Chabot
Both Anthony Chabot Regional Park and Lake Chabot Regional Park offer many exciting things to do. You can enjoy:
- Camping with your family or a group
- Hiking on many trails
- Riding horses on special paths
- Biking on scenic trails
- Studying nature and wildlife
- Having picnics with friends and family
- Playing golf
- Fishing (with special rules for eating fish)
- Renting boats to explore the lake
- Visiting the marina and a restaurant
- Taking boat tours to see the lake from the water
Impact on the Environment
When the Lake Chabot dam was being built in 1874, a big storm washed away a lot of the dam's building materials. This event helped create a special wetland area called Arrowhead Marsh. This marsh is located in San Leandro Bay, near the Oakland International Airport.
Scientists believe the marsh appeared between 1855 and 1895. Cutting down trees in the nearby San Antonio Forest might have also played a part in its formation.
Today, Arrowhead Marsh is one of the last remaining natural wetlands in the East Bay. It is part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline park. Sadly, most of the other wetlands in the area have been covered by buildings and factories. This makes Arrowhead Marsh a very important place for local wildlife.
