Whiskeytown Lake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Whiskeytown Lake
Whiskeytown Lake Location in California Show map of California Whiskeytown Lake Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Shasta County, California
Coordinates	40°35′58″N 122°32′28″W / 40.59944°N 122.54111°W / 40.59944; -122.54111
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Clear Creek
Primary outflows	Clear Creek
Catchment area	203 sq mi (530 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	3,458 acres (1,399 ha)
Water volume	241,100 acre⋅ft (297.4 Gl)

Whiskeytown Lake is a large reservoir (an artificial lake) located in Shasta County, in northwestern California, United States. It is about 8 miles (13 km) west of the city of Redding. This beautiful lake is part of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, a special place managed for fun outdoor activities.

Whiskeytown Lake can hold a lot of water, about 241,100 acre⋅ft (297.4 Gl). It was created by building the Whiskeytown Dam on Clear Creek. The lake also gets extra water from Lewiston Reservoir. This water travels through a long tunnel called the Clear Creek Tunnel, bringing water from the Trinity River into Whiskeytown Lake.

It's important to know that health experts suggest being careful about eating fish from Whiskeytown Lake. This is because some fish might have higher levels of a natural element called mercury. It's always a good idea to check local advisories for safe eating guidelines.

Fun Things to Do at Whiskeytown Lake

Whiskeytown Lake is a popular spot for many outdoor activities. You can enjoy camping under the stars, going for a refreshing swim, or having fun on the water with boating and water skiing. It's also a great place for fishing. However, some types of watercraft, like personal watercraft, are not allowed on the lake to keep it peaceful and safe.

What Fish Can You Catch?

If you like to fish, you might catch different kinds of fish here. These include rainbow and German brown trout. You can also find various types of bass, such as largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Another interesting fish you might catch is kokanee salmon.

Amazing Wildlife Around the Lake

Many local people love Whiskeytown Lake because its waters are very clear, sometimes you can see 30 ft (9.1 m) deep! The area around the lake is also home to lots of amazing wildlife. You might spot several pairs of bald eagles, which build their nests along the lake's shores. Other animals sharing this habitat include black bears, mountain lions, blacktail deer, turtles, and raccoons.

To make sure everyone can enjoy the lake during the busy summer months, the lake is usually filled to its highest level by Memorial Day and stays full until Labor Day.

Whiskeytown Dam: How the Lake Was Made

Whiskeytown Dam and Reservoir

The Whiskeytown Dam is an important part of the lake. It's an earth-fill embankment dam, meaning it's built from compacted earth. The dam is about 263 ft (80 m) tall and was finished in 1963. The United States Bureau of Reclamation owns and operates it. The dam helps control floods, provides water for farms (called irrigation), and generates hydroelectricity (power from water).

How the Dam Makes Electricity

Before water even reaches Whiskeytown Lake, it helps make electricity at a power plant called the Judge Francis Carr Powerhouse. This powerhouse can generate 154 megawatts of electricity. Whiskey Creek also flows into the lake. A lot of the water from Whiskeytown Lake then leaves through the Spring Creek Tunnel. This tunnel carries the water to another power plant, the Spring Creek Powerhouse, which can generate 180 megawatts. The water from this powerhouse then flows into Keswick Reservoir. Finally, the Keswick Powerhouse at Keswick Dam generates another 117 megawatts of electricity before the water flows into the Sacramento River.

Climate Around Whiskeytown Lake

Whiskeytown Reservoir is known for its warm weather. It's one of the few places in northern California that has recorded very high temperatures, sometimes 120 °F or even hotter! Other places nearby that have also seen such high temperatures include Red Bluff and Orland.