Pyramid Lake (California)

Infobox lake
lake_name = Pyramid Lake
image_lake = Lake-Castaic-pano.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Los Angeles County, California
coords = coord|34|39|18.48|N|118|46|29.99|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Piru Creek
outflow = Piru Creek
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume = convert|222000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on|lk=on
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|2579|ft|m|abbr=on (spillway elevation)
islands =
cities =

Pyramid Lake is also a lake formed by Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek, near Castaic, California. The 180,000 acre-foot (222,000,000 m³) reservoir is in the southern portion of the Los Padres National Forest in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County. The 386 foot (118 m) tall earth and rock dam was built by the California Department of Water Resources and was completed in 1973. Pyramid Lake is part of the California Aqueduct, which is part of the California State Water Project. Downstream is Castaic Lake, which is the terminus of the west branch of the aqueduct. Pyramid and Castaic act as the upper and lower reservoirs for a 1,495 megawatt pumped storage hydroelectric plant. It is the deepest lake in the California Water Project system. Its name comes from the Pyramid Rock, created when a ridge was cut through in 1932 by the Ridge Route Alternate (US 99). Pyramid Rock still exists directly in front of the dam.

A lake-level drawdown of about convert|23|ft|m started on February 18, 2008. The reduced lake level was necessary to remove sediment that had accumulated around the United States Forest Service (USFS) boat dock over the past 34 years. The California Department of Boating and Waterways will also make repairs to the boating launch ramp’s east boarding float system. Sediment removal is scheduled to end on Monday, March 17, 2008, and the refill process will begin – culminating with reopening of the lake and park on April 5, 2008. [ [http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080211006118&newsLang=en DWR to Suspend Pyramid Lake Recreation During Repair Project ] ]

References