Lake Piru facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Piru |
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 Lake Piru
Location in California
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| Location | Los Padres National Forest, Topatopa Mountains, Ventura County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°28′39″N 118°45′18″W / 34.47750°N 118.75500°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Piru Creek Agua Blanca Creek |
| Primary outflows | Piru Creek |
| Catchment area | 421.4 sq mi (1,091 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,240 acres (500 ha) |
| Max. depth | 130 ft (40 m) |
| Water volume | 83,244 acre⋅ft (102,680,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 1,043 ft (318 m) |
Lake Piru is a reservoir (a man-made lake) located in Ventura County, California. It's part of the Los Padres National Forest and the Topatopa Mountains. The lake was created in 1955 when the Santa Felicia Dam was built on Piru Creek. This creek flows into the Santa Clara River.
In 1999, actor Harrison Ford had a helicopter accident near the lake.
Contents
About the United Water Conservation District
Lake Piru is about 1,043 ft (318 m) above sea level. The dam's spillway, which lets extra water out, is at 1,055 ft (322 m). The United Water Conservation District owns and manages the dam and the lake. This district is based in Santa Paula, California.
The district does many important jobs. It helps control floods and offers fun recreation activities. It also works to save surface water and groundwater (water found underground). They help refill groundwater supplies and provide water for farms and cities in the Santa Clara River Valley and Oxnard Plain. The district started on December 5, 1950. It owns about 2,200-acre (890 ha) of land around the lake and dam.
Fun at Lake Piru Recreation Area
The Lake Piru Recreation Area is on the western side of the lake. It covers about 60 acres (24 ha) and has many places for outdoor fun. You can go camping, boating, fishing, and have picnics there.
There are 238 campsites, and they all have water and electricity. There's also a snack bar if you get hungry. If you like boating, there are 66 boat slips and a full-service marina.
Swimming used to be very popular at Lake Piru. However, it was officially stopped in August 2020. This happened after actress Naya Rivera disappeared in the lake in July of that year. The lake was closed to visitors for over a month before the swimming ban began. Before this, Lake Piru was the only lake in Ventura County where swimming was allowed.
You can get to Lake Piru from Piru Canyon Road, which is near the town of Piru, California. The lake is located downstream from Pyramid Lake.
Fish Safety at Lake Piru
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) gives advice about eating fish from Lake Piru. They have found levels of mercury and PCBs in fish from the lake. Because of this, they suggest safe amounts of fish to eat.
Lake Closures in 2020
In 2020, the Lake Piru Recreation Area was closed for several months. It was closed for almost five months between April and August, except for one week in early July.
- The first closure was before April 4 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on July 1.
- It closed again a week later after Naya Rivera disappeared.
- The lake stayed closed until August 20. This was due to the search for Naya Rivera and later because the Holser Fire blocked Piru Canyon Road.
Dealing with Invasive Species
Quagga mussels are an invasive species that were found in Lake Piru in 2013. They also spread downstream into the Lower Piru Creek. This was the first time these mussels were found in Ventura County. Quagga mussels are not native to the area and can cause problems for the lake's ecosystem and water systems.
As of 2014[update], the water district was looking into ways to deal with these mussels. They worked with a group of experts, including staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other government agencies. The district needs to create plans to stop the mussels from spreading further. Some ideas discussed included draining the reservoir or using a special potassium solution to get rid of them.
Lake Piru in Media
Lake Piru has been a filming location for television shows.
- Parts of the first episode (called the "pilot episode") of the TV series Supernatural were filmed at the lake. This episode was about the main characters looking for the ghost of a drowned woman.
- An episode of the series Lost Tapes called "Oklahoma Octopus" was also filmed here.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Piru para niños
