Lake Ilsanjo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Ilsanjo |
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The lake in 2013
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 Lake Ilsanjo
Location in California
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| Location | Sonoma County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°25′37″N 122°38′00″W / 38.4269°N 122.6333°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Spring Creek |
| Primary outflows | Spring Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 650 yd (600 m) |
Lake Ilsanjo is a beautiful, man-made lake. It is located inside Annadel State Park. This park is just east of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California, United States. Many people visit Lake Ilsanjo for fun activities. It's a great spot for fishing and swimming, especially when the weather is warm in the summer months.
About Lake Ilsanjo
Lake Ilsanjo is a special kind of lake called a reservoir. A reservoir is a lake that people create. It is not a natural lake. This lake was made by building a dam across a creek. The water from Spring Creek flows into and out of Lake Ilsanjo.
How the Lake Got Its Name
The name "Ilsanjo" has a cool story! The land where the park is now used to belong to a person named Joe Coney. He decided to name the lake after his wife, Ilsa, and himself, Joe. If you put "Ilsa" and "Joe" together, you get "Ilsanjo"!
Building the Lake
The lake was formed when a dam was built in the 1950s. This dam holds back the water from Spring Creek. For a while, extra water from the lake would just flow into a gully. But in 2003, the state spent a lot of money to make things better. They built a special spillway and a release valve. These new parts help control the water flow. They also help stop the land downstream from washing away.
What Happened in 2007?
During the winter of 2007 and 2008, something unexpected happened. Park officials accidentally left the lake's release valve open. This caused a lot of water to flow out of the lake. The lake's water level dropped much lower than usual. This made parts of the lake bottom, which are normally underwater, show up as mudflats. It was a bit of a surprise for everyone!
