Shaver Lake
| Shaver Lake | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Shaver Lake | |
| Location | Sierra National Forest Fresno County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°07′33″N 119°17′27″W / 37.12597°N 119.29075°WCoordinates: 37°07′33″N 119°17′27″W / 37.12597°N 119.29075°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Stevenson Creek |
| Primary outflows | Stevenson Creek Big Creek |
| Catchment area | 29.3 sq mi (76 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,177 acres (881 ha) |
| Water volume | 135,283 acre⋅ft (166,869 dam3) |
| Surface elevation | 5,500 ft (1,700 m) |
| Settlements | Shaver Lake Shaver Lake Heights |
| References | U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Shaver Lake |
Shaver Lake is an artificial lake on Stevenson Creek, in the Sierra National Forest of Fresno County, California. At elevation 5,500 ft (1,700 m), several smaller streams also flow into the lake, and it receives water from the tunnels of Southern California Edison's Big Creek Hydroelectric Project.[1] The town Shaver Lake is located on its south-west shore.
Background[]
The lake was formed with the construction of Shaver Lake Dam, which was built by Southern California Edison and completed in 1927. The 180-foot dam was built in 50-foot (15-m) blocks, with a keyway to hold it in place and a 75-centimeter (30-inch) copper sheet to make it watertight. Its capacity is 135,283 acre⋅ft (166,869 dam3). Some water from the lake is discharged into Stevenson Creek for fish and other wildlife, but the rest is diverted to Big Creek, where it powers several hydroelectric plants in succession.
The area now covered by the lake was extensively logged before the dam was built, and an extensive log flume system several miles long was constructed to bring logs down the mountain. The town to this day maintains a nostalgic logging theme. Several buildings in town are in fact old, converted sawmills. Adjacent to the lake is Camp Edison, built and operated by SCE.[2]
On August 13, 1943, Grace Craycroft (née Shaver), the daughter of pioneer lumberman Charles B. Shaver after whom the lake and town is named, drowned after suffering from a heart attack whilst attempting to save a 12-year-old boy from drowning.
The reality television shows Endurance: High Sierras and Capture were filmed at Shaver Lake in summer 2006 and summer 2013, respectively.[3] The lake was also the filming location of the HBO Max reality show Karma during the summer of 2019.[4]
The Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project is a non-profit organization to educate the public on fishing and make Shaver Lake a fishing destination.
Camp Chawanakee, a Scout camp, is located on a peninsula on the southern shore of Shaver Lake. BSA troops from all over California attend each summer. The camp's facilities include canoeing, sailing, row boats, kayaking, swimming, hiking, rifle shooting, shotgun, archery, horse riding, rock wall, zip lining, fishing, crafts, and many other activities.
See also[]
- List of dams and reservoirs in California
- List of lakes in California
- Shaver Lake, California
- Huntington Lake
References[]
- ^ Big Creek Project Archived 2006-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Camp Edison
- ^ McNary, Dave (May 27, 2015). "California Lake Location Lures Productions Despite Long-Term Drought". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
- ^ Gener, Wealthy (June 17, 2020). "Show biz coming to Shaver Lake: competition series filmed last year set to premier on HBO". KSEE. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- Department of Water Resources (2009). "Station Meta Data: Shaver Lake (SHV)". California Data Exchange Center. State of California. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
External links[]
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- Reservoirs in Fresno County, California
- Lakes of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)
- Sierra National Forest
- Reservoirs in California
- Reservoirs in Northern California
- Fresno County, California geography stubs