Lake Lahontan (reservoir) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Lahontan |
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Lake Lahontan Reservoir overflowing in May, 1973
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 Lake Lahontan
Location in Nevada
Lake Lahontan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lyon / Churchill counties, Nevada |
| Coordinates | 39°24′06″N 119°06′49″W / 39.40167°N 119.11361°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Carson River |
| Primary outflows | Carson River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 17 mi (27 km) |
Lake Lahontan is a large reservoir in northwest Nevada, United States. It was created on the Carson River by building the Lahontan Dam. This dam was finished in 1905 by the Bureau of Reclamation. It was part of an important project called the Newlands Reclamation Act. The lake is located between the towns of Fallon, Nevada and Carson City, Nevada.
Water also flows into Lake Lahontan from the Truckee River. This extra water comes through special channels. The lake is managed by the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID). The lake gets its name from an ancient, much larger lake. This ancient Lake Lahontan covered a big part of northwestern Nevada during the last ice age.
About Lake Lahontan
Lake Lahontan is about 17 miles (27 km) long. Its shoreline stretches for 69 miles (111 km). The lake has several parts that are connected by narrow water passages. When it is completely full, the lake covers about 10,000 acres (40 square kilometers). However, by late summer, it is usually less than half full.
The water in the lake is mainly used for irrigation. This means it helps farmers water their crops. Because of this, the lake's water level can change a lot. Sometimes, parts of old stagecoach routes from the 1800s can be seen. These routes were once underwater. One famous spot was Williams Station, where a small fight happened during the Paiute War. A small town called "Lahontan" used to be near the reservoir. In 1940, it had about 25 people living there.
Fun Activities at the Lake
Lake Lahontan is part of the Lahontan State Recreation Area. This area is a great place for outdoor fun. Many people enjoy fishing in the lake. You can also go boating or camping along the shore. Much of the shoreline is sandy, which makes it perfect for setting up a tent.
It's important to know that fish from the lake might have some mercury. This comes from old mines in the area. So, if you catch fish, it's best to limit how much you eat. Signs at the lake give guidelines for this.
Fish You Can Catch
The lake is home to many kinds of fish. Popular fish to catch include:
- Wipers (a mix of white bass and striper)
- White bass
- Walleye
- Channel catfish
- White catfish
- Largemouth bass
- Spotted bass
- Crappie
The lake is stocked with young walleye and wipers almost every year. The best times for fishing are usually from April to July and again in October.
How the Lake Works
The Carson River flows into Lake Lahontan at its southwest end. This part of the lake is very shallow. The shoreline here can change a lot as the lake fills up or empties. Another river, the Truckee River, also adds water to the lake. The Derby Dam sends some of the Truckee River's water into the Truckee Canal. This canal then flows into Lake Lahontan at its northeast end, right next to the Lahontan Dam.
In 2017, there were very heavy floods in California. This caused a huge amount of water to flow into Lake Lahontan. The lake filled up completely. To handle all the extra water, a special weir (a low dam) was built. Large pipes were quickly placed under US95. These pipes were lined with rocks to protect them. This helped the water cross the road safely and kept the town of Fallon from flooding.
