Upper San Leandro Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Upper San Leandro Reservoir |
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 Upper San Leandro Reservoir
Location in California
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| Location | San Leandro, California |
| Coordinates | 37°46′33″N 122°07′03″W / 37.77583°N 122.11750°W |
| Primary outflows | San Leandro Creek |
| Catchment area | 21.5 sq mi (56 km2) |
| Managing agency | East Bay Municipal Utility District |
| First flooded | 1926 |
| Max. length | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Surface area | 620 acres (250 ha) |
| Water volume | 42,000 acre⋅ft (52,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 459 ft (140 m) |
The Upper San Leandro Reservoir is a large, human-made lake in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California. This important lake helps provide drinking water for many people. It is managed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), which is a water company.
The lake was created by building a dam across San Leandro Creek. This dam holds back the water, forming the reservoir. Most of the water in the reservoir comes from far away through a large pipe system called the Mokelumne Aqueduct. Some water also comes from rain and streams in the local area. The reservoir can hold about 42,000 acre-feet of water. This is a huge amount, equal to about 13.7 billion gallons! The name "Upper" helps people tell it apart from Lake Chabot, which is another reservoir downstream.
Building the First Dam
The Upper San Leandro Reservoir was first created in 1926. This happened when the original San Leandro Dam was finished. By 1929, the reservoir was full of water from the Mokelumne Aqueduct.
When the lake filled up, it covered a big part of the San Leandro Creek valley. This included two small towns called Valle Vista and Redwood. The first dam was built between 1924 and 1926. It was made using a method called hydraulic fill. Over time, experts realized this dam might not be strong enough to withstand big earthquakes.
A Stronger Dam for Safety
Because of earthquake concerns, a new, stronger dam was built in 1977. This new dam was constructed right in front of the old one. It is made of earth and designed to be very safe during earthquakes.
The new dam is about 182 feet (55 meters) tall. It stretches about 1,300 feet (396 meters) long. It contains a massive amount of material, about 88,890 cubic yards (68,000 cubic meters).
Wildlife and Recreation
Several streams flow into the Upper San Leandro Reservoir. These include San Leandro, Moraga, King Canyon, Kaiser, and Redwood Creeks. The reservoir and these streams are home to a type of fish called rainbow trout. These trout cannot swim to San Francisco Bay because the dam blocks their path.
To keep the water clean for drinking, boating and fishing are not allowed on the reservoir itself. However, there are public trails around the lake. These trails let people enjoy the beautiful natural area.
