San Luis Reservoir
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| San Luis Reservoir | |
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| Location | Merced County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°04′04″N 121°04′52″W / 37.0679°N 121.081°WCoordinates: 37°04′04″N 121°04′52″W / 37.0679°N 121.081°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | San Luis Creek |
| Primary outflows | California Aqueduct |
| Catchment area | 84.6 sq mi (219 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 12,700 acres (5,100 ha) |
| Water volume | 2,041,000 acre·ft (2,518,000 dam³) |
| Surface elevation | 544 ft (166 m) |
| References | USGS GNIS: San Luis Reservoir |
The San Luis Reservoir is an off-stream artificial lake in the eastern slopes of the Diablo Range of Merced County, California, approximately 12 mi (19 km) west of Los Banos on State Route 152 which crosses Pacheco Pass and runs along its north shore. The reservoir stores water taken from the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta as the surplus water would otherwise run into the Pacific Ocean. Water is pumped up-hill into the reservoir from the O'Neill Forebay which is fed by the California Aqueduct and is released back into the forebay to continue downstream along the aqueduct 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 (8 km) wide. At the eastern end of the reservoir is the San Luis Dam, or the B.F. Sisk Dam, the fourth largest embankment dam in the United States, which allows for a total capacity of 2,041,000 acre·ft (2,518,000 dam³) making San Luis Reservoir the largest off-stream reservoir in the United States.
Completed in 1967, the 12,700 acres (5,100 ha) 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 (885 km) 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 ft (166 m), with the O'Neill Forebay below the dam at 225 ft (69 m) 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 both the power generated here and elsewhere, leave the area and cross the O'Neill Forebay on several man-made islands.
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[edit] San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
San Luis Reservoir is part of the larger San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area (California State Parks) and therefore offers many recreational opportunities for fisherman, boaters, and campers. The park is patrolled by California State Park Peace Officers by vehicle, vessel and off-highway vehicle. In addition to camping and boating, day use picnic areas are avilable at San Luis Creek and an off-highway vehicle (OHV) area is available east of the main area at the intersection of Gonzaga Road and Jaspar-Sears Road.
Camping is available at four campgrounds.
- The Basalt Campground on the south-eastern edge of the lake with 79 developed family campsites. Water faucets are available nearby, and some sites can handle RV's to a length of 40 feet (12 m).
- San Luis Creek Campground on O'Neill Forebay with 53 sites with water and electric hook-ups.
- Medeiros Campground has primitive campsites along the southern shoreline of O'Neill Forebay. This campground has drinking water at three locations and chemical toilets.
- Los Banos Creek Campground has primitive campsites and limited turn-around space. It is not suitable for trailers or motor homes. Drinking water and chemical toilets are available.
Improved boat launch ramps are offered at Dinosaur Point and the Basalt area. 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. The lake is noted for its high winds and has wind warning lights at Romero Outlook, Basalt Campground, and Quien Sabe Point.
[edit] Climate
The National Weather Service has maintained a cooperative weather station at San Luis Dam since 1963. Based on those records, average January temperatures are a maximum of 54.3°F and a minimum of 37.9°F and average July temperatures are a maximum of 92.0F° and a minimum of 64.0°F. There are an average of 69.3 days with highs of 90F° (32C°) or higher and an average of 14.1 days with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower. The record high temperature was 110°F on July 24, 2006, and the record low temperature was 14°F on December 22, 1990.
Average annual precipitation is 10.36 inches. There are an average of 57 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1998 with 25.06 inches and the dryest year was 1989 with 4.88 inches. The most precipitation in one month was 9.03 inches in February 1998. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 3.70 inches on May 6, 1998. Snowfall rarely falls at the reservoir, but 1.2 inches of snow fell on January 9, 2001.[1]
[edit] References
- Department of Water Resources (2009). "Station Meta Data: San Luis Reservoir (Federal) (SLF)". California Data Exchange Center. State of California. http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/profile?s=SLF&type=dam. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- Allan, Stuart (2005). California Road and Recreation Atlas. Medford, OR: Benchmark Maps. p. 75. ISBN 0929591801.
[edit] External links
- California State Parks
- The Center for Land Use Interpretation
- California Dept of Water Resources Daily Reservoir Storage Summary
 San Luis Dam |
 San Luis Reservoir from Romero Outlook |
 San Luis Dam and Gianelli Powerhouse |
 Satellite photo of San Luis Dam and the O'Neill Forebay |
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