View source for Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County, California)

{{Short description|Reservoir in Los Angeles County, California, United States}}
{{mdy|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name         = Pyramid Lake
| image        = Pyramid Lake December 2014.jpg
| caption      = Pyramid Lake and [[Topatopa Mountains]].
| location          = [[Angeles National Forest]] / [[Los Padres National Forest]]<br>[[Los Angeles County, California]]
| coords            = {{coord|34.644153|-118.764258|format=dms|region:US-CA_type:waterbody_source:placeopedia | display=inline,title}}
| type              = [[Reservoir (water)|Reservoir]]
| inflow            = [[California Aqueduct#West Branch|West Branch California Aqueduct]]<br>[[Piru Creek]]
| outflow           = [[California Aqueduct#West Branch|West Branch California Aqueduct]]<br>[[Piru Creek]]
| catchment         = 
| basin_countries   = [[United States]]
| length            = 
| width             = 
| area              = {{convert|1.97|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| depth             = {{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| max-depth         = {{convert|355|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| volume            = {{convert|222000|acre.ft|m3|abbr=on}}
| residence_time    = 
| shore             = {{convert|21|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| elevation         = {{convert|786|m|abbr=on}}
| frozen            = 
| islands           = 
| cities            = 
<!--      Map      -->
| pushpin_map             = Los Angeles##California#USA
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = Location of the reservoir in California.
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
<!--   Below       -->  
| website            = 
| reference         = {{gnis|273141|Pyramid Lake}}
}}

'''Pyramid Lake''' is a [[reservoir]] formed by [[Pyramid Dam]] on [[Piru Creek]] in the eastern [[Topatopa Mountains]], near [[Castaic, California|Castaic]], [[Southern California]]. It is a part of the [[California Aqueduct#West Branch|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]].{{cn|date=October 2016}}

==Background==
This lake was created in 1972,<ref name="pirugorge">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-18 |title=US 99 – Piru Gorge, Beneath Pyramid Lake |url=http://socalregion.com/highways/us_99/us990311/ |access-date= 2014-05-27 |page=6}}</ref> 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 in California|U.S. Route&nbsp;99]].<ref name="deptofwater-history" /> Travelers between Los Angeles and Bakersfield christened the landmark “Pyramid Rock,” which still stands just adjacent to the dam.<ref name="deptofwater-history" />

The {{convert|118|m|abbr=on}} earth and rock [[dam]] was built by the [[California Department of Water Resources]] and was completed in 1973. Pyramid Lake is part of the [[California Aqueduct]], which is part of the [[California State Water Project]]. Outflow goes downstream to [[Castaic Lake]], which is the terminus of this West Branch [[Aqueduct (watercourse)|aqueduct]] line.{{cn|date=October 2016}}

Pyramid and Castaic lakes act as the upper and lower reservoirs for the [[Castaic Power Plant]], a 1,495 [[megawatt]] [[pumped storage]] [[hydroelectric]] plant located at Castaic Lake.<ref name="dwr">{{Cite web |title=Pyramid Lake |url=http://wdl.water.ca.gov/recreation/locations/pyramid/pyramidcontent.cfm |website=CA—DWR |access-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405214528/http://wdl.water.ca.gov/recreation/locations/pyramid/pyramidcontent.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The plant generates electricity from the water that flows down from Pyramid Lake to Castaic Lake, and can store energy by pumping water in the reverse direction when desired.

Its name comes from the Pyramid Rock, created when a ridge was cut through in 1932 by the [[Ridge Route]] Alternate (US 99). Pyramid Rock still exists directly in front of the dam.<ref>{{gnis|273141|Pyramid Lake}}</ref>

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.<ref name="deptofwater-history">{{Cite book |url=http://www.water.ca.gov/recreation/brochures/pdf/pyramid-lake.pdf |title=Pyramid Lake |publisher=Dept of Water Resources, State of California |page=2 |format=Brochure |access-date=2014-05-27 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032625/http://www.water.ca.gov/recreation/brochures/pdf/pyramid-lake.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
Pyramid Lake is built up along the steep canyon walls surrounding [[Piru Creek]].{{cn|date=October 2016}}

The {{convert|180000|acre.ft|m3|abbr=on}} reservoir lies on the border between the [[Angeles National Forest]] and the [[Los Padres National Forest]],  in the northwestern portion of [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]. It is to the west of [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate&nbsp;5]] (I-5) south of [[Tejon Pass]]. The former alignment of US&nbsp;99 is below the waters here, replaced by I-5.{{cn|date=October 2016}}
The lake also lies between the [[Sierra Pelona Mountains|Sierra Pelona]] and the [[Topatopa Mountains]].
Just below the dam, Piru Creek returns to its natural state as it winds down through the [[Topatopa Mountains]] to feed into the [[Lake Piru]] reservoir and later the [[Santa Clara River (California)|Santa Clara River]]. Water from Pyramid Lake continues through the [[Angeles Tunnel]] to [[Castaic Lake]], which is the terminus of the west branch of the aqueduct.{{cn|date=October 2016}}

==Recreation==
Pyramid Lake offers boating, fishing, jet skiing, and picnic areas (including 5 unique sites that are accessible only by boat), and courtesy docks.<ref name="dwr" /> [[Vista del Lago|Vista del Lago Visitors Center]] overlooks the lake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vista del Lago Visitors Center |url=http://wdl.water.ca.gov/recreation/locations/pyramid/pyramidvisitors.cfm |website=CA—DWR |access-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405153308/http://wdl.water.ca.gov/recreation/locations/pyramid/pyramidvisitors.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Access is from exiting [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] at Vista Del Lago Road (Exit 191).

Fishing is allowed from every location at Pyramid Lake. This includes fish such as large mouth bass, small mouth bass, striped bass, blue gill, crappie, and some trout.  The [[California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment]] (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for fish caught in Piru Creek based on levels of mercury or [[Polychlorinated biphenyl|PCBs]] found in local species.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Admin |first=OEHHA |date=2014-12-30 |title=Pyramid Lake |language=en |work=OEHHA |url=https://oehha.ca.gov/fish/advisories/pyramid-lake |access-date=2018-06-13}}</ref>

Access to the lake was temporarily closed in June 2024 due to the impacts of the [[Post Fire (2024)|Post Fire]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Anna |date=2024-06-21 |title=California lake closes until further notice |url=https://www.newsweek.com/pyramid-lake-closes-until-further-notice-amid-california-wildfires-1915962 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:PyramidLkAngelesNatlFor.JPG |Pyramid Lake earthworks.
File:Pyramid Lake seen from the air, Pacific Ocean in the distance.jpg| Pyramid Lake seen from the air with the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the distance.
File:Pyramid Lake California.jpg |Pyramid Lake and [[San Emigdio Mountains]].
File:Pyramid Lake, Ca. View South towards dam from boat, Oct 2010.jpg |View south towards [[Pyramid Dam]] from boat.
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[List of dams and reservoirs in California]]
*[[List of lakes in California]]
*{{ill|Dome Mountain (Los Angeles County)|ceb|Dome_Mountain_(bukid_sa_Tinipong_Bansa,_California,_Los_Angeles_County)}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County, California)}}
*[http://www.water.ca.gov/recreation/locations/pyramid/ CA Dept. of Water Resources—DWR: Pyramid Lake Recreation website]
*[https://www.recreation.gov/camping/pyramid-lake--los-alamos-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72292 Pyramid Lake Los Alamos campground info and reservation site]

 

{{Greater Los Angeles Area|state=collapsed}}
{{State Water Project}}
{{Santa Clara River}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Reservoirs in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:California State Water Project]]
[[Category:San Emigdio Mountains]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in California]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 99]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Southern California]]
[[Category:Artificial lakes of the United States]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in California]]