Lake Success (California)

Lake Success
Location Tulare County, California
Lake type reservoir
Primary inflows Tule River
Primary outflows Tule River
Basin countries United States
Water volume 82,000 acre·ft (101,000,000 m3)

Lake Success is a lake near Porterville, California on the Tule River at [1]. It is formed by Success Dam and has a capacity of 82,000 acre feet (101,000,000 m3). The 156 feet (48 m) tall earth dam is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its construction was completed in 1961.[2] The project's primary purpose is flood control, but the lake also provides water for irrigation and recreation.

In fiction

In the science fiction novel Lucifer's Hammer, written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, fragments of a comet strike the Earth, causing massive tidal waves to destroy most of the planet's coastal cities. Los Angeles is completely destroyed, and the collapse of dams throughout California causes the San Joaquin Valley to become an inland sea. The collapse of Success Dam is witnessed by two of the characters. After the disasters subside, an enclave of civilization forms in the fictional "Silver Valley", located slightly east or northeast of Springville, just north of the Middle Fork of the Tule River. The lake is currently drained.

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Success
  2. ^ "Dams Owned and Operated by Federal Agencies". http://damsafety.water.ca.gov/docs/Federa10-07l.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
Kings River
North Fork Kings River · South Fork Kings River · Middle Fork Kings River · Roaring River · Kings Canyon · Pine Flat Dam · Pine Flat Lake · Rodgers Crossing Dam (proposed)
Kaweah River
North Fork Kaweah River · Middle Fork Kaweah River · Marble Fork Kaweah River · East Fork Kaweah River · South Fork Kaweah River · Lime Kiln Creek · Paradise Creek · Horse Creek · St. John's River · Kaweah Canyon · Mineral King · Terminus Dam · Lake Kaweah
Tule River
North Fork Tule River · Middle Fork Tule River · South Fork Tule River · North Branch Tule River · South Branch Tule River · Success Dam · Lake Success
Kern River
Golden Trout Creek · Little Kern River · Rock Creek · South Fork Kern River · Canebrake Creek · Clear Creek · Poso Creek · Isabella Dam · Lake Isabella · Kern River Canyon · Kern River Slough · Kern Lake · Buena Vista Slough · Buena Vista Lake · Lake Webb · Lake Evans→
Other

The original Success Marina was conceived and built in the early 1960s by Gerald and Della (nee Bearce) Weaver of Tulare. The marina, which began as a small trailer on the eastern shore selling sodas, candy and cigarettes, quickly evolved into a modern, for the times, circular floating marina with bait and tackle shop, gas dock, walk up fast food window, and sleeping quarters. Mr. Weaver held license to build and sell Glaspar fishing and ski boats, and Mercury outboard engines. Boat and engine service were available as well. Also present was dock space, which became expansive, slips and boats for rent, live bait pen, and plenty of area for houseboat moorage.