Rancho Seco Recreational Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rancho Seco Lake |
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Westward view across lake
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 Rancho Seco Lake
Location in California
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Satellite map
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| Location | Sacramento County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°20′17″N 121°05′42″W / 38.33802°N 121.09493°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Folsom South Canal |
| Managing agency | SMUD |
| Built | 1970s |
| Surface area | 160 acres (0.25 sq mi; 0.65 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 75 m (246 ft) |
| References | SMUD |
Rancho Seco Recreational Park is a fun outdoor area in the California Central Valley. It's located near Herald, California, and the old Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station. This park is open to everyone for camping, fishing, hiking, and water activities.
The lake here is special because only boats with electric motors are allowed. This rule helps keep the water calm and clean, making it a great place for swimming. The lake gets its water from the Folsom South Canal.
Contents
Park History
The land around Rancho Seco Recreational Park was first managed by Sacramento County. In the early 1970s, a small pond was made much bigger. It became a lake to hold backup cooling water for the nearby power plant.
In 1992, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) took over running the park. They started a yearly trout fishing competition in 1993. Later, in 2006, the park added the 7 miles (11 km) Howard Ranch Trail. A 75 acres (0.117 sq mi; 0.30 km2) nature preserve was also created, giving visitors even more to explore.
Fun Activities at Rancho Seco Lake
| Weather chart for Herald, CA
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You can enjoy different types of camping at the park. There are 31 spots for tent camping along the south shore. Each spot has a barbecue pit and a picnic table. You'll find drinking water and clean restrooms nearby.
For those with RVs, there are 18 spots available. These RV sites have electricity, plus the same picnic tables and barbecue pits. The park also has a dump station for RVs. A general store is open from May to September. You can also find showers, laundry facilities, and a recreation room.
Fishing at the Lake
There are six fishing docks on both the north and south sides of the lake. These docks are easy to access, even for people with disabilities. You can fish from the shore or launch a boat. Remember, only boats with electric motors are allowed.
The lake has many natural fish like largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. SMUD also adds trout to the lake. They hold an annual trout fishing competition each spring. This competition has two age groups: one for people under 16 and one for those 16 and older. Prizes are given to the top fishers in both groups.
Rancho Seco Lake is known for its very large bass. Some experts believe it could even produce a record-breaking bass! This is because the lake has a special type of bass (Florida-strain genes) and plenty of food, especially the trout that are added. The biggest bass caught here weighed 18.4 pounds (8.3 kg) and was 29 inches (74 cm) long.
Swimming and Water Sports
There's a large 36,000 square feet (3,300 m2) sandy beach area for swimming. It's marked off with ropes, and lifeguards are on duty during the summer. Because gas motors are not allowed, the water stays very calm. This makes it a great place for swimming.
The calm water also makes the lake popular for other water sports. You can enjoy windsurfing, kayaking, and canoeing here. Kayaks and canoes are available to rent at the park.
Howard Ranch Trail
The Howard Ranch Trail is a 7 miles (11 km) path that starts on the north side of the lake. It follows the shoreline for a bit, then goes out into open ranch land. The trail is made of gravel and crosses a few small wooden bridges.
A special part of this trail are the seasonal vernal pools. These are temporary pools of water that form in the spring. They are home to rare and endangered animals like the tiger salamander and the American spadefoot toad. The park offers guided tours to help you learn about these unique pools and the creatures that live there.
Amanda Blake Wildlife Refuge
The Amanda Blake wildlife refuge is located west of the lake, past the dam. This refuge covers 75 acres (0.117 sq mi; 0.30 km2) of the park. It's a special place that cares for endangered animals. These animals are either bred in captivity or have been rescued. You might see animals like oryx and giant emu living here.
Park Ecology: Plants and Animals
Rancho Seco Recreational Park is set in an oak woodland. You'll see many oak trees, especially when you look away from the lake. Underneath the oaks, various grasses and flowering plants grow, particularly near the vernal pools.
The lake shore has thick blackberry bushes almost everywhere, except near the dam and the picnic/camping areas. You'll often see ducks and geese swimming in the clear areas of the lake. Some people even feed them.
Larger birds like Great blue herons hunt for fish in the lake. You might also spot bald eagles and hawks nesting in the trees around the lake. Many insects live here too, including colorful dragonflies and grasshoppers. Raccoons are also common, using the lake as a water source. You might see their tracks or droppings along the animal trails.
Images for kids
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Bird landing
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Dragonfly
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Dock and shore foliage
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Duck near swimming area
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Blackberries along shore
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Oak marble galls in the park
