Lake Anza

Lake Anza
Location	Contra Costa County, California
Coordinates	37°53′46″N 122°15′01″W
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Wildcat Creek
Primary outflows	Wildcat Creek
Catchment area	1.56 sq mi (4.0 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	10 acres (4.0 ha)
Surface elevation	794 ft (242 m)

Lake Anza is a recreational swimming reservoir in Tilden Regional Park, which is located in the Berkeley Hills above Berkeley, California.

The lake was created by the construction of the C L Tilden Park Dam in 1938. It was named by the East Bay Regional Park Board in honor of Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza.

The lake is open for swimming from May to September. During this time there is an entry fee required, lifeguards are on duty, and a snack bar is open. The swimming area is restricted to the water alongside a sandy and grassy beach area which is about 70 yards (64 m) long. There is an adult swim area with a length of 44 yards (40 m).

The lake area includes amenities such as changing rooms, bathrooms (toilets), and large parking areas. There are areas around the lake reserved for waterfowl, and other areas for dogs.

History

Lake Anza was constructed in 1938 with financing by the Public Works Administration (PWA) as a recreational lake while also providing water to the Tilden Park golf course. While the golf course no longer uses Lake Anza water, remnants of the water system remain. The beach and stone bath house were constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The original WPA stone bath house burned down in the 1960s and was replaced with the current facility.

• 
  The beach at Lake Anza on a sunny day
• 
  Lake Anza beach

See also

• Lake Temescal
• List of lakes in California
• List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area
• List of dams and reservoirs in California

External links

• Findlakes maps of Lake Anza
• Lake Anza
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Anza