Lake Temescal

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Temescal
image_lake = Temescal 24.jpg
caption_lake = a popular place to swim on hot days
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Oakland, California
coords = coord|37|50|52|N|122|13|53|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA_source:gnis|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Temescal Creek
outflow = Temescal Creek
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth = convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|433|ft|m|abbr=on
islands =
cities =

Lake Temescal is a small lake in the northeastern hills section of Oakland, California. It is the centerpiece of Temescal Regional Park (originally, Lake Temescal Regional Park). It is part of the greater East Bay Regional Park District.

History

The lake received its name from the stream which is its source, Temescal Creek, which was dammed in 1868 to create a reservoir to provide drinking water for the greater East Bay area, pumped by the Contra Costa Water Company, owned by Anthony Chabot. Prior to being dammed, Lake Temescal was a sag pond, a depression caused by the Hayward Fault. The bulk of the manual labor of removing soil and digging to bedrock was provided by Chinese immigrants, who probably immigrated to work to build the railroads. [ [http://www.firehydrant.org/info/ebchina.html Chinese Workers and the East Bay's Early Water Systems] ] Herds of wild mustangs were used to compact the tons of dirt that were brought to create the dam. The dam is convert|600|ft|m long and convert|16|ft|m wide and rises convert|105|ft|m above the creek. [ [http://www.firehydrant.org/info/ebchina.html Chinese Workers and the East Bay's Early Water Systems] ]

The shores of the lake were a popular camping spot with bohemian artists and writers in the late 1800s. [Schenck, Marvin A. (1991). [http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/2aa/2aa669.htm "Maurice Logan, Artist and Designer."] Retrieved on 2006-16-09.] The British painter J.H.E. Partington lived here in a tent with his family when they arrived in Oakland in 1889. [Oakland Museum of California (March 9, 2002). [http://collections.museumca.org/item_detail.jsp?from_basic_search=t&id=208495&start=11 Exhibition label: "Scene in Oakland."] Retrieved on 2006-16-09.]

During the first half of the 20th century, the tracks of the Sacramento Northern Railroad ran along the eastern side of the lake. At that time, an electric train called the "Comet" crossed directly over the lake. [cite book |last=Mailman |first=Erika |title=Images of America: Oakland Hills |publisher=Arcadia Publishing|date=2004 |location=Charleston, SC |pages=21 |id=ISBN 0-7385-2926-5]

In 1936, Lake Temescal opened to the public as one of the first three parks established by the East Bay Regional Park District. Its early amenities included a beach-like shore for swimming, a boathouse built by the WPA, a well established trail around the lake, and numerous picnic benches.

Present day function

The lake currently supports an artificial recreational beach and is stocked periodically with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, bluegill, and catfish. The park is open to all visitors from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and receives around 200,000 visitors a year.

The lake is constantly becoming shallower due to sediment runoff and must be periodically dredged. Today it is approximately convert|20|ft|m at its deepest point; ["Perry v. East Bay Regional Park Dist." (--- Cal.Rptr.3d ---, 2006 WL 1620299, Cal.App. 1 Dist., June 13, 2006).] previously it was convert|80|ft|m deep. [cite book|last=Mailman|first=Erika|title=Images of America: Oakland Hills|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|date=2004|location=Charleston, SC|pages=21|id=ISBN 0-7385-2926-5]

Since the dam crosses the Hayward fault, there is a possibility of dam failure in the event of an earthquake, which would cause serious flooding in parts of Oakland, Berkeley, and Emeryville. However, due to the additional fill placed between the dam and Highway 24, any hydraulic failure is now unlikely.

During the 1991 Oakland firestorm, water-equipped helicopters refilled at Lake Temescal, largely draining it.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ebparks.org/parks/temescal.htm EB Parks Information about Lake Temescal]
* [http://geology.about.com/library/bl/tours/bloaklandgeo-temescal.htm About.com Geology of Lake Temescal]
*gnis|236093

ee also

* List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area