List of largest reservoirs of California explained
This is a list of the largest reservoirs, or man-made lakes, in the U.S. state of California. All fifty-three reservoirs that contain over 100000acre.ft of water at maximum capacity are listed. This includes those formed by raising the level of natural lakes, such as at Lake Tahoe. Most large reservoirs in California are owned by the federal Bureau of Reclamation and to a lesser extent the Army Corps of Engineers, many serving the Central Valley Project or State Water Project. Smaller ones are often run by county water agencies or irrigation and flood control districts.
The state has more than one thousand major reservoirs, of which the largest two hundred have a combined capacity of over 41000000acre.ft.[1] Most large reservoirs in California are located in the central and northern portions of the state, especially along the large and flood-prone rivers of the Central Valley. Eleven reservoirs have a storage capacity greater than or equal to 1000000acre.ft; all of these except one are in or on drainages that feed into the Central Valley. The largest single reservoir in California is Shasta Lake, with a full volume of more than 4552000acre.ft.
Key |
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denotes reservoir not entirely in California |
denotes reservoir that is offstream or receives most of its water from a source not associated with its feeder stream(s). |
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List
Name | County(s) | Coordinates | data-sort-type="number" | Volume (acre-feet) | data-sort-type="number" | Volume (km3) | Outflow[2] | Dam | Image |
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Shasta Lake | Shasta | 40.7542°N -122.3536°W[3] | 4,552,000[4] | 5.615 | Sacramento River | Shasta Dam | |
Lake Oroville | Butte | 39.5372°N -121.4833°W[5] | 3,537,577[6] | 4.364 | Feather River | Oroville Dam | |
Trinity Lake | Trinity | 40.86°N -122.7233°W[7] | 2,448,000[8] | 3.020 | Trinity River | Trinity Dam | |
New Melones Lake | Tuolumne, Calaveras | 38.0006°N -120.52°W[9] | 2,400,000[10] | 2.960 | Stanislaus River | New Melones Dam | |
San Luis Reservoir | Merced | 37.0678°N -121.1311°W[11] | 2,041,000[12] | 2.518 | San Luis Creek | San Luis Dam | |
Don Pedro Reservoir | Tuolumne | 37.7417°N -120.3736°W[13] | 2,030,000[14] | 2.504 | Tuolumne River | New Don Pedro Dam | |
Lake Berryessa | Napa | 38.5314°N -122.1636°W[15] | 1,602,000[16] | 1.976 | Putah Creek | Monticello Dam | |
Lake Almanor | Plumas | 40.2297°N -121.1581°W[17] | 1,308,000[18] | 1.613 | North Feather River | Canyon Dam | |
Folsom Lake | Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer | 38.7239°N -121.1175°W[19] | 1,120,200[20] | 1.382 | American River | Folsom Dam | |
Lake McClure | Mariposa | 37.6364°N -120.2803°W[21] | 1,024,600[22] | 1.264 | Merced River | New Exchequer Dam | |
Pine Flat Lake | Fresno | 36.8325°N -119.3258°W[23] | 1,000,000[24] | 1.233 | Kings River | Pine Flat Dam | |
New Bullards Bar Reservoir | Yuba | 39.3922°N -121.1417°W[25] | 996,103[26] | 1.229 | North Yuba River | New Bullards Bar Dam | |
Diamond Valley Lake | Riverside | 33.6783°N -117.0417°W[27] | 810,000[28] | 0.999 | Domenigoni Creek | West Dam | |
Lake Tahoe | Placer, El Dorado, Douglas (NV), Washoe (NV) | 39.0831°N -120.0342°W[29] | 732,000[30] | 0.903 | Truckee River | Lake Tahoe Dam | |
Lake Havasu | San Bernardino, Mohave (AZ), La Paz (AZ) | 34.3833°N -114.2425°W[31] | 646,200[32] | 0.797 | Colorado River | Parker Dam | |
Lake Isabella | Kern | 35.6464°N -118.4822°W[33] | 568,000[34] | 0.701 | Kern River | Isabella Dam | |
Clear Lake Reservoir | Modoc | 41.8497°N -121.1706°W[35] | 527,000[36] | 0.650 | Lost River | Clear Lake Dam | |
Millerton Lake | Fresno, Madera | 36.9975°N -119.6933°W[37] | 520,500[38] | 0.642 | San Joaquin River | Friant Dam | |
Camanche Reservoir | San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras | 38.2239°N -120.9678°W[39] | 431,000[40] | 0.532 | Mokelumne River | Camanche Dam | |
Lake Sonoma | Sonoma | 38.7181°N -123.0094°W[41] | 381,000[42] | 0.470 | Dry Creek | Warm Springs Dam | |
Lake Nacimiento | San Luis Obispo | 35.7444°N -120.9039°W[43] | 378,480[44] | 0.467 | Nacimiento River | Nacimiento Dam | |
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir | Tuolumne | 37.9392°N -119.7256°W[45] | 360,000[46] | 0.444 | Tuolumne River | O'Shaughnessy Dam | |
Lake San Antonio | Monterey | 35.8703°N -121.0053°W[47] | 335,000[48] | 0.413 | San Antonio River | San Antonio Dam | |
Castaic Lake | Los Angeles | 34.52°N -118.6064°W[49] | 323,700[50] | 0.399 | Castaic Creek | Castaic Dam | |
New Hogan Lake | Calaveras | 38.1508°N -120.8131°W[51] | 317,000[52] | 0.391 | Calaveras River | New Hogan Dam | |
Prado Flood Control Basin | Riverside | 33.9092°N -117.6186°W[53] | 314,400 | 0.389 | Santa Ana River | Prado Dam | |
Clear Lake | Lake | 39.0617°N -122.8272°W[54] | 313,000[55] | 0.386 | Cache Creek | Cache Creek Dam | |
Indian Valley Reservoir | Lake | 39.1253°N -122.5428°W[56] | 300,600[57] | 0.371 | North Fork Cache Creek | Indian Valley Dam | |
Cherry Lake | Tuolumne | 38.0056°N -119.9069°W[58] | 274,300[59] | 0.338 | Cherry Creek | Cherry Valley Dam | |
Lake Casitas | Ventura | 34.3858°N -119.3356°W[60] | 254,000[61] | 0.313 | Coyote Creek | Casitas Dam | |
San Vicente Reservoir | San Diego | 32.9308°N -116.9061°W[62] | 242,000[63] | 0.298 | San Vicente Creek | San Vicente Dam | |
Whiskeytown Lake | Shasta | 40.6281°N -122.5642°W[64] | 241,100 | 0.297 | Clear Creek | Whiskeytown Dam | |
Union Valley Reservoir | El Dorado | 38.8764°N -120.4°W[65] | 230,000 | 0.284 | Silver Creek | Union Valley Dam | |
Stampede Reservoir | Sierra | 39.4772°N -120.1406°W[66] | 226,500[67] | 0.279 | Little Truckee River | Stampede Dam | |
Twitchell Reservoir | Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo | 35.0122°N -120.3069°W[68] | 224,300[69] | 0.277 | Cuyama River | Twitchell Dam | |
Pardee Reservoir | Amador, Calaveras | 38.2575°N -120.8503°W[70] | 209,950[71] | 0.259 | Mokelumne River | Pardee Dam | |
Hell Hole Reservoir | Placer | 39.0592°N -120.4097°W[72] | 208,400[73] | 0.257 | Rubicon River | Hell Hole Dam | |
Lake Cachuma | Santa Barbara | 34.5867°N -119.9811°W[74] | 205,000[75] | 0.253 | Santa Ynez River | Bradbury Dam | |
New Spicer Meadow Reservoir | Alpine, Tuolumne | 38.4072°N -119.9628°W[76] | 190,000[77] | 0.234 | Highland Creek | New Spicer Meadow Dam | |
Lake Kaweah | Tulare | 36.4053°N -118.9728°W[78] | 185,600[79] | 0.229 | Kaweah River | Terminus Dam | |
Los Vaqueros Reservoir | Contra Costa | 37.8192°N -121.7344°W | 160,000[80] | 0.197 | Kellogg Creek | Los Vaqueros Dam | |
Black Butte Lake | Glenn, Tehama | 39.7911°N -122.3642°W[81] | 143,700[82] | 0.177 | Stony Creek | Black Butte Dam | |
Salt Springs Reservoir | Amador, Calaveras | 38.4972°N -120.1822°W[83] | 141,900[84] | 0.175 | Mokelumne River | Salt Springs Dam | |
French Meadows Reservoir | Placer | 39.1147°N -120.4397°W[85] | 136,400[86] | 0.168 | Middle Fork American River | L.L. Anderson Dam | |
Shaver Lake | Fresno | 37.1258°N -119.2906°W[87] | 135,283[88] | 0.167 | Stevenson Creek | Shaver Lake Dam | |
Lake Perris | Riverside | 33.8558°N -117.1767°W[89] | 131,452[90] | 0.162 | N/A | Perris Dam | |
Lake Thomas A. Edison | Fresno | 37.3828°N -118.9761°W[91] | 125,000[92] | 0.154 | Mono Creek | Vermilion Valley Dam | |
Courtright Reservoir | Fresno | 37.1028°N -118.9756°W[93] | 123,300[94] | 0.152 | Helms Creek | Courtright Dam | |
Mammoth Pool Reservoir | Fresno | 37.3306°N -119.3208°W[95] | 123,000[96] | 0.152 | San Joaquin River | Mammoth Pool Dam | |
Lake Mendocino | Mendocino | 39.2156°N -123.1733°W[97] | 122,400[98] | 0.151 | Russian River | Coyote Valley Dam | |
Wishon Reservoir | Fresno | 37.0178°N -118.9631°W[99] | 118,000[100] | 0.146 | North Fork Kings River | Wishon Dam | |
Camp Far West Reservoir | Yuba | 39.0317°N -121.2867°W[101] | 104,500[102] | 0.129 | Bear River | Camp Far West Dam | |
Bucks Lake | Plumas | 39.8822°N -121.1644°W[103] | 103,000[104] | 0.127 | Bucks Creek | Bucks Storage Dam | |
Calaveras Reservoir | Alameda, Santa Clara | 37.4747°N -121.8194°W[105] | 100,000[106] | 0.123 | Calaveras Creek | Calaveras Dam | | |
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: California's Water: Storing Water. Association of California Water Agencies. California Water Series. 2011-06-22.
- ACME Mapper. USGS Topo Maps for United States. United States Geological Survey. 2011-06-22.
- 253897. Shasta Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: Shasta Dam Hydraulics and Hydrology. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Shasta/Trinity River Division Project. 2009-06-04. 2011-06-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20111204111330/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Shasta+Dam&groupName=Hydraulics+%26+Hydrology. 2011-12-04. dead.
- 264404. Lake Oroville. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: USGS Gage #11406800 on Lake Oroville near Oroville, CA (Water-Data Report 2008). U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1967–2008. 2011-06-20.
- 255079. Trinity Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: Shasta/Trinity River Division Project. U.S. Bureau of Division. Central Valley Project. 2011-04-21. 2011-06-20. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130222212059/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Shasta/Trinity%20River%20Division%20Project. 2013-02-22.
- 253643. New Melones Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: New Melones Unit Project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Central Valley Project. 2010-05-26. 2011-06-20. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171905/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=New%20Melones%20Unit%20Project. 2016-03-03.
- 232446. San Luis Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: San Luis Unit Project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. West San Joaquin Division. 2011-04-21. 2011-06-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20111112091225/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=San%20Luis%20Unit%20Project. 2011-11-12. dead.
- 253880. Don Pedro Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: Don Pedro Reservoir. Turlock Irrigation District. Water Projects. 2011-06-20.
- 255067. Lake Berryessa. 2000-06-14. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: Monticello Dam. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Solano Project. 2010-05-26. 2011-06-20.
- 256197. Lake Almanor. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: Alphabetical List of California Dams (over 40,000 acre feet) . University of California Davis . Civil and Environmental Engineering . 2011-06-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120205223601/http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lund/dams/DamList.htm . 2012-02-05 .
- 223648. Folsom Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: USGS Gage #11446200 on Folsom Lake near Folsom, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1955–2007. 2011-06-22.
- 245652. Lake McClure. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: Legislation Introduced in Congress Allows Consideration for Increased Storage at Lake McClure. Merced Irrigation District. 2011-03-03. 2011-06-20.
- 252091. Pine Flat Lake. 1990-06-01. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: Welcome to Pine Flat Lake. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sacramento District. 2011-06-20.
- 267058. New Bullards Bar Reservoir. 2000-06-14. 2011-06-20.
- Web site: New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir. Northern California Water Association. Water Maps. 2011-06-20.
- 2358949. Diamond Valley Lake. 2007-11-05. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: 2010/11 Budget. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. 2009-07-01. 2011-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20101026001831/http://www.mwdh2o.com/mwdh2o/pages/finance/budget/AB2011.pdf. 2010-10-26. dead.
- 1654975. Lake Tahoe. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Lake Tahoe Dam Hydraulics & Hydrology. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Newlands Project. 2008-10-30. 2011-06-22.
- 243280. Lake Havasu. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Parker Dam. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Parker-Davis Project. 2009-06-29. 2011-06-22. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110129065329/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Parker+Dam. 2011-01-29.
- 271737. Isabella Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Overview of the Isabella Dam Potential Failure Modes Workshop. Serafini, David C. . Rose, Ronn S. . United States Society on Dams. Collaborative Management of Integrated Watersheds. 2011-06-22.
- 221199. Clear Lake Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Clear Lake Dam. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Klamath Project. 2010-05-03. 2011-06-22.
- 263643. Millerton Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Friant Dam. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Friant Division Project. 2009-06-04. 2011-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20160129184528/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Friant+Dam. 2016-01-29. dead.
- 254692. Camanche Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Camanche Reservoir at South Shore Recreation Area – Monitoring Site Information. California State Water Resources Control Board. 2011-06-22.
- 234892. Lake Sonoma. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Faghih, Jafar. Warm Springs Dam. University of California Davis. Civil and Environmental Engineering. 1999-06-11.
- 255655. Lake Nacimiento. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- News: Central California Lake Fills To Capacity For First Time In Decades. CBS News. 2011-03-29. 2011-06-22.
- 261289. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Rosekrans, Spreck. Carlin, Michael. Point/Counterpoint: Hetch Hetchy Valley Restoration. University of Arizona. Southwest Hydrology. March 2005. 2011-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20150622195849/http://www.swhydro.arizona.edu/swhydro/archive/V4_N2/dept-pointcounterpoint.pdf. 2015-06-22. dead.
- 254200. Lake San Antonio. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Reservoir Release Schedule for 2009. Monterey County Water Resources Agency. 2011-06-22.
- 1802841. Castaic Lake. 1998-10-22. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Castaic Lake. California Department of Water Resources. California State Water Project. 2011-06-22. 2014-07-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20140703024032/http://www.water.ca.gov/pubs/swp/castaic_lake__west_branch_/castaic_lake.pdf. dead.
- 254970. New Hogan Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Lower Calaveras River Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Life History Limiting Factors Analysis. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 2011-06-22.
- 247767. Prado Flood Control Basin. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- 258441. Clear Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: IV: District's Water Supply System. WMP District Water Supply. Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District. 2011-06-22.
- 274690. Indian Valley Reservoir. 1989-02-01. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: District Infrastructure. Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District. 2011-06-22.
- 255077. Cherry Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: USGS Gage #11277200 on Cherry Lake near Hetch Hetchy, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1956–2008. 2011-06-22.
- 240317. Lake Casitas. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Ventura River Project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 2011-06-22.
- 248974. San Vicente Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: San Vicente Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 268967. Whiskeytown Lake. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- 268592. Union Valley Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- 267662. Stampede Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Stampede Dam Overview. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Washoe Project. 2009-12-22. 2011-06-22.
- 255810. Twitchell Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Santa Maria Project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 2011-05-17. 2011-06-22.
- 230339. Pardee Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Nuzum, Robert. Resolving Stakeholder Interests on the Lower Mokelumne River. Watershed Management Council. 2011-06-22.
- 261246. Hell Hole Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Case Study Report #27: Hell Hole Reservoir, Rubicon River. CALFED Bay-Delta Program. 149. 2011-06-22.
- 270134. Lake Cachuma. 1981-01-19. 2011-06-22.
- Web site: Cachuma Project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 2011-04-18. 2011-06-22.
- 235195. Spicer Meadow Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Spicer Meadows Reservoir Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 255512. Lake Kaweah. 2000-06-14. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Terminus Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Los Vaqueros Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 254624. Lake Kaweah. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Black Butte Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 273425. Salt Springs Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Salt Springs Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 260398. French Meadows Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: French Meadows Reservoir Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 247390. Shaver Lake. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Shaver Lake Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 247390. Perris Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Perris Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 274108. Lake Thomas A Edison. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Thomas A Edison Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 258786. Courtright Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Courtright Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 266964. Mammoth Pool Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Mammoth Pool Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 228503. Lake Mendocino. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Lake Mendocino Reservoir Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 269260. Wishon Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Wishon Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 220455. Camp Far West Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Camp Far West Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 266504. Bucks Lake. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Bucks Lake Storage Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.
- 220379. Calaveras Reservoir. 1981-01-19. 2019-09-21.
- Web site: Calaveras Dam Information. California Department of Water Resources. 2019-09-21.