| Mammoth Pool Reservoir | |
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  Mammoth Pool Reservoir  Mammoth Pool Reservoir | |
| Location | Sierra National Forest Fresno County, California Madera County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°21′15″N119°18′32″W / 37.3541°N 119.309°W /37.3541; -119.309 |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | San Joaquin River |
| Primary outflows | San Joaquin River |
| Catchment area | 998 sq mi (2,580 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 5 mi (8.0 km) |
| Max. width | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Surface area | 1,100 acres (450 ha) |
| Water volume | 123,000 acre⋅ft (152,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 3,330 ft (1,010 m) |
| References | U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mammoth Pool Reservoir |
Mammoth Pool Reservoir is areservoir on theSan Joaquin River in theSierra Nevada, within theSierra National Forest inCalifornia. It creates the border betweenFresno County andMadera County. It is about 45 miles (72 km) north-northeast ofFresno.
The 123,000 acre⋅ft (152,000,000 m3) reservoir is formed byMammoth Pool Dam, an earth-filldam completed in 1960.[1] It was built bySouthern California Edison forhydroelectricity production. The dam's power plant can produce up to 190 megawatts.[citation needed] The dam, reservoir andpower plant are part of theBig Creek Hydroelectric Project, perhaps the most extensive hydroelectric system in the world.[citation needed]
The reservoir is also a recreation area. Activities at the lake include, swimming, fishing, camping and boating.
The reservoir is closed to the public during the month of May and the first half of June to allow migrating deer to swim across the reservoir so as to spend the summer in theSierra Nevada highlands.
The reservoir is inaccessible following the first snowstorm, usually occurring in November, as the access road is notsnowplowed.[2]
Road access to a campground beside the reservoir was blocked by theCreek Fire on 5 September 2020, at which point officials recommended that campers wade into the reservoir for their own protection. Many were later evacuated by helicopter.[3]
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