Ruth Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruth Reservoir |
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 Ruth Reservoir
Location in California
Ruth Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Trinity County, California |
| Coordinates | 40°22′08″N 123°26′00″W / 40.36889°N 123.43333°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Mad River (California) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 42,000 acre-feet (52×106 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 2,657 ft (810 m) |
Ruth Reservoir, also known as Ruth Lake, is a special lake in California. It's the only reservoir built on the Mad River. A reservoir is like a big, artificial lake that stores water.
This reservoir and the nearby town were named after an early settler, Ruth McKnight. The lake was created in 1962 when the R. W. Matthews Dam was built. Its main job is to provide water for homes and businesses. It supplies water to cities like Arcata and Eureka. It also helps other communities around Humboldt Bay.
Ruth Reservoir was not built to stop floods. However, it did help reduce flooding in December 1964. It lowered the floodwaters in the community of Mad River. It also helped control the flood flow in Arcata.
How Ruth Reservoir Makes Electricity
The reservoir also helps make electricity! There's a power plant near the dam. This plant uses the water flowing from the reservoir. It has two large machines called turbine generators. Each one can make 1 megawatt of power. Together, they make 2 megawatts.
On average, this plant creates 5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year. A gigawatt-hour is a huge amount of energy. It's enough to power many homes!
When the weather is dry, water is still released from the reservoir. This water flows down the Mad River. It is then collected by special wells near Essex, California. These wells are called Ranney collectors. They help get the water back for people to use.
Fun Things to Do at Ruth Lake
Ruth Lake is a popular spot for outdoor fun! A summer vacation area called Ruth grew up around the reservoir. This area offers many ways to enjoy the lake.
There are 174 cabin sites around the lake. People can lease these sites for their cabins. It's a great place for families to spend time.
If you want to bring a boat to Ruth Lake, there are rules to follow. All boats must be checked and registered before they can go on the water. You can launch boats at the marina. You can also use the boat launch at the Ruth Recreational Campground.
