Salt Spring Valley Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salt Spring Valley Reservoir |
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 Salt Spring Valley Reservoir
Location in California
Salt Spring Valley Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Calaveras County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°02′07″N 120°45′03″W / 38.03538°N 120.75090°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Mokelumne River |
| Catchment area | 169 sq mi (440 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 975 acres (395 ha) |
| Water volume | 10,900 acre⋅ft (13,400,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 328 m (1,076 ft) |
The Salt Spring Valley Reservoir is a special kind of lake. It's not a natural lake, but an artificial one. This means people created it! It was made by building a large wall, called a dam, across a stream called Rock Creek.
This reservoir is located in the Bear Mountains area of Calaveras County, California. It's an important part of the local water system in this part of the United States.
Contents
What is a Reservoir?
A reservoir is like a big storage tank for water. Unlike natural lakes that form on their own, reservoirs are built by humans. They are usually created by building a dam across a river or stream. This dam holds back the water, forming a large body of water behind it.
Why Do We Build Reservoirs?
People build reservoirs for many important reasons. One main reason is to store water for drinking. This water can then be cleaned and sent to homes and businesses. Reservoirs also help with irrigation, which means providing water for farms to grow crops.
Another important use is to control floods. When there's a lot of rain, a reservoir can hold back the extra water. This stops rivers from overflowing and causing damage to towns. Reservoirs can also be used to generate electricity using hydropower. This is when the force of water moving through the dam turns turbines.
Salt Spring Valley Reservoir's Location
The Salt Spring Valley Reservoir is found in Calaveras County, California. This county is in the central part of California, known for its beautiful landscapes and historic towns. The reservoir is specifically in the Bear Mountains, which are part of the larger Sierra Nevada mountain range.
How the Reservoir Was Made
The Salt Spring Valley Reservoir was created by building the Salt Springs Valley Dam. This dam was constructed across Rock Creek. Rock Creek is a natural stream that flows through the valley. By blocking the flow of Rock Creek, the dam caused water to back up and fill the valley, forming the reservoir we see today.
The Role of Dams
Dams are amazing feats of engineering. They are strong barriers built across rivers or streams. The main purpose of a dam is to hold back water. This creates the reservoir. Dams can be made from different materials, like concrete or earth. They are designed to be very strong to withstand the immense pressure of the water behind them.
Water Flow and Size
The Salt Spring Valley Reservoir collects water from an area of about 169 square miles (438 square kilometers). This is called its catchment area. All the rain and snowmelt in this large area eventually flows into the reservoir.
The reservoir itself covers an area of about 975 acres. To give you an idea, one acre is roughly the size of a football field. So, this reservoir is quite large! It can hold a huge amount of water, about 10,900 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre to a depth of one foot.
Outflow: The Mokelumne River
Water from the Salt Spring Valley Reservoir eventually flows out into the Mokelumne River. This river is an important waterway in California. It flows from the Sierra Nevada mountains towards the San Joaquin River. The reservoir helps manage the flow of water into the Mokelumne River, which can be important for downstream communities and ecosystems.
Importance of Reservoirs in California
California is a state that often experiences dry periods. Because of this, reservoirs like Salt Spring Valley Reservoir are extremely important. They store water during wet seasons, like winter and spring, when there's a lot of rain and snowmelt. This stored water can then be used during the dry summer and fall months.
Reservoirs help ensure that there's enough water for cities, farms, and even for fighting wildfires. They are a critical part of California's water supply system, helping millions of people have access to clean water.
