Pine Flat Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pine Flat Lake |
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Pine Flat Lake, located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
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 Pine Flat Lake
Location in California
Pine Flat Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sierra National Forest Sequoia National Forest Fresno County, California, United States, near Piedra, California |
| Coordinates | 36°49′57″N 119°19′33″W / 36.8325°N 119.3259°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Kings River |
| Primary outflows | Kings River |
| Catchment area | 1,545 sq mi (4,000 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 29.6 km (18.4 mi) |
| Surface area | 5,970 acres (24.2 km2) |
| Max. depth | 429 feet (131 m) |
| Water volume | 1,000,000 acre⋅ft (1.2 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 261 m (856 ft) |
Pine Flat Lake is a large, man-made lake in eastern Fresno County, California. It's located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, about 30 miles (48 km) east of the city of Fresno. This lake was created by building a dam on the Kings River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages Pine Flat Lake. They built the Pine Flat Dam in 1954. The lake can hold a huge amount of water, about 1 million acre-feet. Its main job is to help control floods, but it also provides water for farms, recharges groundwater, and is a popular spot for fun activities. Since 1984, the lake has also been used to generate electricity at the Jeff L. Taylor Pine Flat Power Plant.
Fun at Pine Flat Lake
Pine Flat Lake is a very popular place for people to visit and enjoy the water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes care of the land around the lake. They offer many areas for recreation and for watching wildlife. These spots help visitors have a great time at Pine Flat Lake:
- Deer Creek Recreation Area and Pine Flat Lake Marina. The marina is run by a private company.
- Lakeview Recreation Area
- Edison Point Wildlife Area. This area is open for hunting and watching animals.
- Sycamore Creek Wildlife Area. This area is also open for hunting and watching animals.
Wildlife and Fishing
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the fish in Pine Flat Lake. They also add new fish to the lake. You can find many types of fish here, including:
- Large and smallmouth bass
- Spotted bass
- Rainbow trout
- King (chinook) and kokanee salmon
- Catfish
- Crappie
- Bluegill
If you like fishing, you can catch native rainbow trout in the upper Kings River. This area is special because it helps wild trout reproduce naturally. This means new fish grow without people adding them. To fish, you need a valid state fishing license. You must also follow all the rules from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Hunting is allowed in certain areas away from the main recreation spots. Only bow and arrow or shotguns can be used.
Different groups work together to make sure everyone follows the rules at Pine Flat Lake. These include USACE Park Rangers, Game Wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and deputies from the Fresno County Sheriff's Department.
