Lake Sonoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Sonoma |
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The lake, just behind the Warm Springs Dam, which is to the right of this view
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 Lake Sonoma
Location in California
Lake Sonoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sonoma County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°43′05″N 123°00′34″W / 38.71806°N 123.00944°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Dry Creek |
| Primary outflows | Dry Creek |
| Catchment area | 130 sq mi (340 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 5.7 mi (9 km) |
| Surface area | 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) |
| Water volume | 381,000 acre⋅ft (0.470 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 50 miles (80 km) |
| Surface elevation | 200 feet (61 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Sonoma is a large reservoir (a human-made lake) located west of Cloverdale in northern Sonoma County, California. It was created when the Warm Springs Dam was built.
This lake is very important because it provides water for homes and businesses across the county. It's also a popular spot for fun outdoor activities! When the lake is full, it has about 50 miles (80 km) of shoreline, covers more than 2,700 acres (11 km2) of land, and holds a huge amount of water – about 381,000 acre-feet (470,000,000 m3). You can enjoy boating, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, camping, and even hunting here. Some cool places to visit include the Milt Brandt Visitor Center, the Congressman Don Clausen Fish Hatchery, and the Warm Springs Recreation Area right below the dam.
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History of Lake Sonoma
Long before Lake Sonoma was created, Pomo people lived in the Dry Creek area. They had been there since at least the 1700s. Some of these native people were not happy about the lake being built. Experts from Sonoma State University have studied the history of the Warm Springs Dam, Lake Sonoma, and the Dry Creek Valley. They have learned a lot about the area's past.
Warm Springs Dam: How It Works
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Warm Springs Dam across Dry Creek. This massive dam was finished in 1982. It's a special type of dam made from rolled earth.
- The dam stands 319 ft (97 m) tall.
- It stretches 3,000 ft (900 m) long.
- The top of the dam is 30 ft (9 m) wide.
- It contains about 30,000,000 cu yd (23,000,000 m3) of earth!
The Warm Springs Dam helps control floods, protecting communities downstream. It also has a hydroelectric plant that uses the water flowing through it to make electricity. A certain amount of water must always be released into Dry Creek. This is important to help fish like salmon and steelhead trout migrate (travel) up and down the creek.
Camping at Lake Sonoma
Lake Sonoma is a great place to go camping!
- Liberty Glen Campground: This campground has 96 spots where you can drive right up to your campsite. It also has two larger group sites. The campground is located on a ridge that looks out over Lake Sonoma. Each campsite has a firepit, a picnic table, and a tent area. These are basic campsites with no running water.
- Secluded Campsites: There are 15 extra campsites hidden around the lake. You can reach 14 of these by boat, which is a fun adventure! The other 11 can be reached by hiking or riding a horse.
Images for kids
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Southern arm (left) and main body (right) of Lake Sonoma as viewed from the vista point located southeast of Warm Springs Dam
See also
In Spanish: Lago Sonoma para niños
