Miramar Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Miramar Reservoir |
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 Miramar Reservoir
Location in California
Miramar Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California |
| Coordinates | 32°54′55″N 117°05′56″W / 32.9154°N 117.0988°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 162 acres (66 ha) |
| Max. depth | 114 ft (35 m) |
Miramar Reservoir is a large, man-made lake located in the Scripps Miramar Ranch area of San Diego, California. It is owned and managed by the City of San Diego. This reservoir was finished in 1960. It was built as part of a big project to bring water to the city.
People in San Diego often call it Lake Miramar or Miramar Lake. It's a popular spot for outdoor fun. You can go boating, fishing, or have a picnic there. There's also a trail that goes all the way around the lake. It's more than 5 miles long!
How We Get Our Water
Miramar Reservoir is an important part of San Diego's water supply. Water flows into the reservoir from far away. It comes from two major water systems: the Colorado River Aqueduct and the California Aqueduct. These aqueducts bring water from the Colorado River and northern California. The San Diego County Water Authority helps bring this water to the reservoir.
The reservoir has a large earthen dam. This dam is 165 feet tall. It holds back the water, creating the lake. A part of the trail goes over this dam. It was closed for a while after the events of September 11, 2001. But it reopened in 2007. From the dam, you can see amazing views. You can look out over Mira Mesa, Miramar, and University City. These are all communities in northern San Diego.
Cleaning Our Water
The Miramar Water Treatment Plant is next to the reservoir. It was completed in 1962. This plant cleans the water from the reservoir. It makes the water safe to drink. About 500,000 people get their drinking water from this plant. These people live in the northern parts of San Diego.
The water treatment plant has been updated over the years. A big upgrade project started in 1998. Construction began in 2001 and finished in 2011. This project added new ways to clean the water. It now uses chlorine and ozone to make sure the water is very clean.
