Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County, California)
| Pyramid Lake | |
|---|---|
Pyramid Lake and San Emigdio Mountains.
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| Location |
Angeles National Forest / Los Padres National Forest Los Angeles County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°38′39″N 118°45′51″W / 34.644153°N 118.764258°WCoordinates: 34°38′39″N 118°45′51″W / 34.644153°N 118.764258°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows |
West Branch California Aqueduct Piru Creek |
| Primary outflows |
West Branch California Aqueduct Piru Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 222,000 acre·ft (274,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 786 m (2,579 ft) |
| References | U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pyramid Lake |
Pyramid Lake is a reservoir formed by Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek in the eastern San Emigdio Mountains, near Castaic, Southern California. It is a part of the West Branch California Aqueduct, which is a part of the California State Water Project. Its water is fed by the system after being pumped up from the San Joaquin Valley and through the Tehachapi Mountains.
In 1843, gold was discovered near what is now Pyramid Lake, in the Santa Feliciana Canyon, just south of what is now Pyramid Dam. The small find failed to trigger a rush to the mountainous countryside. Only Francisco Lopes, owner of Rancho Temescal, a Mexican land grant, and a handful of ranchers attempted to settle the region.
This lake was created in 1972, and completed in 1973, as a holding reservoir for the California State Water Project. The lake was named after a pyramid-shaped rock carved out by engineers building U.S. Route 99. Travelers between Los Angeles and Bakersfield christened the landmark “Pyramid Rock,” which still stands just adjacent to the dam.
Pyramid Lake is the deepest lake in the California Water Project system, built up along the steep canyon walls surrounding Piru Creek.
The 180,000 acre·ft (220,000,000 m3) reservoir lies on the border between the Angeles National Forest and the Los Padres National Forest, in the northwestern portion of Los Angeles County. It is to the west of Interstate 5 (I-5) south of Tejon Pass. The former alignment of US 99 is below the waters here, replaced by I-5.
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