Trinity Lake

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Trinity Lake
Location	Trinity County, California
Coordinates	40°49′21″N, 122°45′54″WCoordinates: 40°49′21″N, 122°45′54″W
Primary inflows	Trinity River
Primary outflows	Trinity River
Basin countries	United States
Water volume	2,447,650 acre-feet (3.02 km³)
Surface elevation	2,387 ft (728 m)

Trinity Lake, previously called Clair Engle Lake, is a lake on the Trinity River formed by the Trinity Dam and located in Trinity County, California, The dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake has a capacity of 2,447,650 acre-feet (3.02 km³), making it one of the largest reservoirs in California. The lake's surface is at an elevation of 2370 feet. Trinity Lake captures and stores water for the Central Valley Project, which provides the Central Valley with water for irrigation and produces hydroelectric power. This lake is known for its many small arms, glassy inlets and great water skiing conditions.

After the death in office of California United States Senator Clair Engle in 1964, the lake was renamed in his honor, but this name never received wide currency, particularly with local residents, and the name eventually was officially reverted to the widely-used original one. Asking a local resident for directions to "Clair Engle Lake" may result in a prank, in which the unsuspecting individual is sent to the local sewage treatment facility.