Castaic Lake

Not to be confused with Castac Lake.

Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake Castaic Lake Castaic Lake
Location	Castaic, Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates	34.53°N 118.61°W / 34.53; -118.61
Type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	West Branch California Aqueduct Castaic Creek
Primary outflows	Castaic Creek
Catchment area	220.48 square miles (571.0 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	3.45 square miles (8.9 km2)
Average depth	147 feet (45 m)
Max. depth	330 feet (100 m)
Water volume	320,000 acre⋅ft (390,000,000 m3)
Surface elevation	1,519 feet (463 m)

Castaic Lake (Chumash: Kaštiq) is a reservoir formed by Castaic Dam on Castaic Creek, in the Sierra Pelona Mountains of northwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, near the town of Castaic.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued a safety advisory for any fish caught in Castaic Lake and Castaic Lagoon due to elevated levels of mercury and PCBs.

Description

The 320,000 acre⋅ft (390,000,000 m³) lake, with a surface elevation of approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) above sea level, is the terminus of the West Branch California Aqueduct, though some of its water comes from the 154-square-mile (400 km²) Castaic Creek watershed above the dam. Castaic Lake is bisected by the Elderberry Forebay Dam, which creates the adjacent Elderberry Forebay. The aqueduct water comes from Pyramid Lake through the Angeles Tunnel and is used to power Castaic Power Plant, a pumped-storage hydroelectric facility on the northern end of the forebay. Water is mostly powering the turbines, rather than being pumped by them.

Castaic Lake State Recreation Area

Castaic Lake

Castaic Lake State Recreation Area is a state park located in northwestern Los Angeles County near the community of Castaic, north of Santa Clarita. It is controlled by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The recreational area is adjacent to the Angeles National Forest. The 4,224-acre (1,709 ha) park was established in 1965. The area encompasses Castaic Lake. Primary access is via Interstate 5 at exits 176A and 176B at the town of Castaic.

Distribution

Water from the lake is distributed throughout the northern portion of the Greater Los Angeles Area. Some water is released into Castaic Lagoon below the dam, to maintain its water level for recreation. Castic Lagoon drains into Castaic Creek, which flows south until it meets the Santa Clara River, a few miles west of Santa Clarita.

Lake activities

Castaic Lake has a lower lagoon with a swim beach that is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend annually. This lake also offers bass fishing in the upper and lower lake year-round and float tube fishing in the lower lake.

In popular culture

Castaic Lake was one of the main filming locations for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. Many of the action scenes were recorded here.

Castaic Lake was the starting point for The Amazing Race 26 on November 12, 2014. NBC's Fear Factor was also shot there.

The lake also served as the main filming location for the music video of Sabrina Carpenter's 2024 hit single "Espresso".

See also

• List of dams and reservoirs in California
• List of lakes in California
• List of largest reservoirs of California

References

• "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (A-G)" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-09. Retrieved December 3, 2012.

External links

• Castaic Lake State Recreation Area
• "California Public Utilities Commission" (PDF). (197 KiB)
• Castaic Lake State Recreation Area