Castaic Lake

Castaic Lake
Location Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates 34°31′29″N 118°35′15″W / 34.5247°N 118.5876°W / 34.5247; -118.5876Coordinates: 34°31′29″N 118°35′15″W / 34.5247°N 118.5876°W / 34.5247; -118.5876
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 a reservoir formed by Castaic Dam on Castaic Creek, in the Sierra Pelona Mountains of northwestern Los Angeles County, California, near the town of Castaic.

Description

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. Castaic Lake is bisected by the Elderberry Forebay Dam, which creates the adjacent Elderberry Forebay. The aqueduct water comes from Pyramid Lake through the Angeles Tunnel and is used to power Castaic Power Plant, a pumped-storage hydroelectric facility on the northern end of the forebay. Water is mostly powering the turbines, rather than being pumped by them.[1]

Castaic Lake is part of the Castaic Lake State Recreation Area. Primary access is via Interstate 5 at exits 176A and 176B at the town of Castaic.

Distribution

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.

Castaic Lake was the starting point for The Amazing Race 26 on November 12, 2014. NBC's Fear Factor was shot there, too.[2]

Castaic also has a lower lagoon with a swim beach that is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor day weekend annually. This lake also offers bass fishing in the upper and lower lake year-round and float tube fishing in lower lake.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Historic Pump-Storage Operation in WSCC, page 14
  2. ↑ Glazer, Mikey. "11 'Amazing Race' Starting Line Secrets Revealed (Exclusive Video)". TheWrap. The Wrap News Inc.
  3. ↑ http://www.castaiclake.com/
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