Lake Piru is a reservoir located in Los Padres National Forest and Topatopa Mountains of Ventura County, California, created by the construction in 1955 of the Santa Felicia Dam on Piru Creek, which is a tributary of the Santa Clara River.
United Water Conservation DistrictEdit
The elevation of the reservoir is 1,043Â ft (318Â m), and the elevation of the dam spillway is 1,055Â ft (322Â m). The dam is owned and operated by the United Water Conservation District based in nearby Santa Paula, California. The district is a multi-service district providing flood control, recreation services, surface and groundwater conservation, groundwater replenishment, and wholesale water for agriculture and urban uses to the Santa Clara River Valley and Oxnard Plain. Formed on December 5, 1950, under the Water Conservation Act of 1931, it owns approximately 2,200-acre around and including the lake and dam (890Â ha).
Lake Piru Recreation AreaEdit
The Lake Piru Recreation Area, along the western shore, has about 60 acres (24Â ha) with various recreational facilities for camping, boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. The 238 campsites have water and electric hookup along with a snack bar. There are 66 boat slips with a full-service marina. The lake is situated downstream from Pyramid Lake and can be accessed from Piru Canyon Road near the town of Piru, California.
Invasive speciesEdit
Quagga mussels became established in the Lake Piru and then downstream in the Lower Piru Creek in 2013. While this was the first discovery in Ventura County, they are an invasive species found in various rivers and lakes in the U.S. As of 2014, the district will be exploring options using a technical panel consisting of state Fish and Wildlife staff as well as representatives from the National Marine Fisheries Service and other federal, state, and local agencies. The district has to develop plans to deal with further colonization. The Casitas Municipal Water District that manages nearby Lake Casitas suggested that the reservoir be drained. Poisoning it with a potassium solution was also considered.
See alsoEdit
- List of dams and reservoirs in California
- Reservoirs in Ventura County, California
- Topatopa Mountains
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Lake-piru.org: Lake Piru Recreation Area website