San Luis Reservoir

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San Luis Reservoir

San Luis Dam

The San Luis Reservoir is a water-storage reservoir located in the eastern part of the Diablo Range in west-central California, approximately 45 miles southeast of the city of San Jose. California State Route 152 runs along its north shore. The reservoir stores water from the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta that would otherwise run into the Pacific Ocean. Water is pumped up to the reservoir from the California Aqueduct and Delta-Mendota Canal and released as needed for farm irrigation and other uses. Depending on water levels, the reservoir is approximately nine miles long from north to south at its longest point, and five miles wide. At the eastern end of the reservoir is the San Luis Dam, the fourth largest embankment dam in the United States, which allows for a total capacity of 2,041,000 acre-feet (2.52 km³) making San Luis Reservoir the largest off-stream reservoir in the United States. Due to its heavy usage for irrigation, the reservoir can typically be seen significantly (a hundred feet or more) below capacity, particularly in late summer and early fall.

The 12,700 acre reservoir is a joint use facility, being a part of both the California State Water Project and Central Valley Project, which together form a network of reservoirs, dams, pumping stations, and 550 miles of canals and major conduits to move water across California. The San Luis Reservoir is located in Merced County, and has a visitor center located at the Romero Outlook where visitors can learn more about the dam and reservoir. The surface of the reservoir lies at an elevation of approximately 544 feet, with the O'Neill Forebay below the dam at 225 feet above sea level. This elevation difference allows for a hydroelectric plant to be constructed - the Gianelli Hydroelectric Plant. Power from this plant is sent to a Path 15 substation, Los Banos via a short power line. Those 500 kV wires, carrying the both the power generated here and elsewhere, leave the area and cross the O'Neill Forebay on several man-made islands.

[edit] Recreation

San Luis Reservoir from Romero Outlook

San Luis Dam and Gianelli Powerhouse

Satellite photo of San Luis Dam and the O'Neill Forebay

San Luis Reservoir is part of the larger San Luis State Recreation Area and therefore offers many recreational opportunities for fisherman, boaters, and campers. Camping is available at the Basalt Campground on the south-eastern edge of the lake. Improved boat launch ramps are offered at Dinosaur Point and Basalt Campground. Due to the reservoir's water being imported from the Sacramento River Delta, San Luis shares many of its fish species with that area, including largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, shad, yellow perch, and occasional sturgeon and salmon.[1]

The lake is noted for its high winds and has wind warning lights at Romero Outlook, Basalt Campground, and Quien Sabe Point.