| Pyramid Lake | |
|---|---|
 Pyramid Lake andTopatopa Mountains. | |
  Pyramid Lake  Pyramid Lake  Pyramid Lake | |
| Location | Angeles National Forest /Los Padres National Forest Los Angeles County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°38′39″N118°45′51″W / 34.644153°N 118.764258°W /34.644153; -118.764258 |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | West Branch California Aqueduct Piru Creek |
| Primary outflows | West Branch California Aqueduct Piru Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1.97 sq mi (5.1 km2) |
| Average depth | 200 ft (61 m) |
| Max. depth | 355 ft (108 m) |
| Water volume | 222,000 acre⋅ft (274,000,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 21 mi (34 km) |
| Surface elevation | 786 m (2,579 ft) |
| References | U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pyramid Lake |
| 1 Shore length isnot a well-defined measure. | |
Pyramid Lake is areservoir formed byPyramid Dam onPiru Creek in the easternTopatopa Mountains, nearCastaic,Southern California. It is a part of theWest Branch California Aqueduct, which is a part of theCalifornia State Water Project. Its water is fed by the system after being pumped up from theSan Joaquin Valley and through theTehachapi Mountains.[citation needed]
This lake was created in 1972,[1] 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 buildingU.S. Route 99.[2] Travelers between Los Angeles andBakersfield christened the landmark “Pyramid Rock”, which still stands just adjacent to the dam.[2]
The 118 m (387 ft) earth and rockdam was built by theCalifornia Department of Water Resources and was completed in 1973. Pyramid Lake is part of theCalifornia Aqueduct, which is part of theCalifornia State Water Project. Outflow goes downstream toCastaic Lake, which is the terminus of this West Branchaqueduct line.[citation needed]
Pyramid and Castaic lakes act as the upper and lower reservoirs for theCastaic Power Plant, a 1,495-megawattpumped storagehydroelectric plant located at Castaic Lake.[3] 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 theRidge Route Alternate (US 99). Pyramid Rock still exists directly in front of the dam.[4]
In 1843, gold was discovered near what is now Pyramid Lake, in theSanta 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 ofRancho Temescal, a Mexican land grant, and a handful of ranchers attempted to settle the region.[2]
Pyramid Lake is built up along the steep canyon walls surroundingPiru Creek.[citation needed]
The 180,000-acre-foot (220,000,000 m3) reservoir lies on the border between theAngeles National Forest and theLos Padres National Forest, in the northwestern portion ofLos Angeles County. It is to the west ofInterstate 5 (I-5) south ofTejon Pass. The former alignment of US 99 is below the waters here, replaced by I-5.[5] The lake also lies between theSierra Pelona and theTopatopa Mountains. Just below the dam, Piru Creek returns to its natural state as it winds down through theTopatopa Mountains to feed into theLake Piru reservoir and later theSanta Clara River. Water from Pyramid Lake continues through theAngeles Tunnel toCastaic Lake, which is the terminus of the west branch of the aqueduct.[citation needed]
Pyramid Lake offers boating, fishing, jet skiing, and picnic areas (including 5 unique sites that are accessible only by boat), and courtesy docks.[3]Vista del Lago Visitors Center overlooks the lake.[6] Access is from exitingInterstate 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. TheCalifornia Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe-eating advisory for fish caught in Piru Creek based on levels of mercury orPCBs found in local species.[7]
Access to the lake was temporarily closed in June 2024 due to the impacts of thePost Fire.[8]
