| Castaic Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles County, California |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | West Branch California Aqueduct Castaic Creek |
| Primary outflows | Castaic Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 320,000 acre·ft (390,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 1,500 feet (460 m) |
Castaic Lake is an reservoir formed by Castaic Dam on Castaic Creek, in the Sierra Pelona Mountains of northwestern Los Angeles County, California, near the town of Castaic.
Contents |
The 320,000 acre·ft (390,000,000 m3) lake with a surface elevation of approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) above sea level is the terminus of the West Branch California Aqueduct, though some comes from the 154 square miles (400 km2) Castaic Creek watershed above the dam. The aqueduct water comes from Pyramid Lake through a pipeline and is used to power Castaic Power Plant, on the northern end of the lake.
In addition, the lake is the lower reservoir in a pumped-storage hydroelectric system. Water is pumped back up to Pyramid Lake at night, when electricity demand and cost is low. During the day, when prices and demand are high, the water is let back down.
Castaic Dam and Castaic Lake are a de facto replacement for the St. Francis Dam, which was located in San Francisquito Canyon, the next canyon to the east. The St. Francis Dam collapsed in 1928, with the resulting flood killing over 400 people in the Santa Clara River Valley.
Water from the lake is distributed throughout the northern portion of the Greater Los Angeles Area. Some water is released into Castaic Lagoon below the dam, which drains into Castaic Creek. The creek flows south until it meets the Santa Clara River, a few miles west of Santa Clarita.
Castaic Lake was one of the main filming locations for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. Many of the action scenes were recorded here.