Skinner Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skinner Reservoir |
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 Skinner Reservoir
Location in California
Skinner Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Riverside County, California |
| Coordinates | 33°35′18″N 117°03′24″W / 33.58833°N 117.05667°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Colorado River Aqueduct, State Water Project |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 54.4×106 m3 (44,100 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface elevation | 457.2 m (1,500 ft) |
Skinner Reservoir, also called Lake Skinner, is a large, man-made lake in western Riverside County, California. It sits at the base of Bachelor Mountain in the Auld Valley. This important lake is about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Temecula.
Lake Skinner was created in 1973. This happened when the Skinner Clearwell Dam was built across Tucalota Creek. The dam was made even bigger in 1991. Today, the lake can hold about 44,200 acre-feet of water. That's a lot of water!
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What is Lake Skinner?
Lake Skinner is a special place that helps provide water to many people. It is managed by the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District. They work with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
The lake gets its water from two big projects. These are the Colorado River Aqueduct and the California State Water Project. The water from Lake Skinner goes to the Robert A. Skinner filtration plant. This plant cleans the water. Then, it sends treated water to about 2.5 million people. These people live in Riverside and San Diego Counties.
The lake is named after Robert A. Skinner. He was a general manager for the Metropolitan Water District. He helped make a deal for water to come from Northern California.
Fun Things to Do at Lake Skinner
Lake Skinner is a very popular spot for outdoor fun. Many people visit it for different activities.
You can go sailing on the lake's surface. Fishing is also a favorite pastime here. There's even a special swimming area away from the main lake. If you like horses, you can go horseback riding. Hiking trails are also available for exploring the area.
The Lake Skinner recreation area is huge. It has 1,400 acres (5.7 square kilometers) of water. There are also 300 acres (1.2 square kilometers) of parkland by the lake. You can find 158 RV sites and 300 campsites for camping.
This lake is also famous for two big events. It hosts the yearly Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival. It also holds the Solar Cup competition.
How Lake Skinner Was Made
Lake Skinner was formed by building a dam. This dam was placed on Tucalota Creek. Two smaller creeks, Middle Creek and Schoolhouse Creek, also flow into the lake.
The water from Tucalota Creek below the reservoir flows into Santa Gertrudis Creek. Then it goes into Murrieta Creek. Finally, it reaches the Santa Margarita River. From there, the water eventually flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Animals and Plants at the Lake
The area around Lake Skinner is home to many interesting animals and plants. It is part of the Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve. This reserve helps protect special creatures.
Some endangered birds live here. These include the Least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillis). Another is the Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). These birds need certain types of trees and plants to live.
North American beaver (Castor canadensis) also live here. Beavers are important because they build dams. Their dams create watery areas where willows grow. These willow habitats are perfect for the endangered birds.
