Lake Almanor

Lake Almanor is a large reservoir in northwestern Plumas County, northeastern California. The reservoir has a capacity of over one million acre-feet and a maximum depth of about 90 feet. It is formed by Canyon Dam on the North Fork of the Feather River, as well as Benner and Last Chance Creeks, Hamilton Branch, and various natural springs.

Lake Almanor Dam is 130-feet tall and composed of hydraulic fill and is the release point for the North Fork Feather River. The first dam was completed by Great Western Power in 1914 as part of the Upper North Fork Feather River Project. They dammed the North Fork of the Feather River and flooded the meadow-filled valley generally known as Nakam Koyo/Big Meadows/Big Springs, a longstanding Yamani Maidu village site. When the dam was built, Maidu families still living in the vicinity were displaced while parts of the town of Prattville had to be moved to higher ground, leaving multiple structures flooded over. The reservoir was named for the three daughters of Guy C. Earl, Vice President of Great Western Power: Alice, Martha and Eleanor.[4][5] The present dam, which more than doubled the size was constructed by Great Western Power from 1926 to 1927.

The dam is now owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. PG&E uses it for hydroelectricity production, but the lake is also a popular recreation area, with fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming and camping available.

Geography

The lake-front and immediate surroundings of Lake Almanor are, either officially or unofficially, divided into a series of regions:
• North Shore typically referring to the north-east shoreline and the campground of the same name.
• The Peninsula being the major east-side peninsula bisecting the lake and largely taken up by the Lake Almanor Country Club, the community of Almanor, and the more recent residential developments known as Bailey Creek and Foxwood.
• Hamilton Branch being the east-side community next south from the Peninsula, named for the river of the same name.
• East Shore being both the developed and undeveloped areas between Hamilton Branch and the dam itself.
• Canyon Dam, the community just southeast of the dam.
• South Shore, the southwest shoreline taken up largely by PG&E managed campgrounds and undeveloped grounds;
• Prattville being the small resort community on the southwest shoreline; retains the same name as the town that was once in Big Meadows (now under water).
• West Shore being on the upper southwest shore and more formally referred to as Lake Almanor West, itself an un-gated country-club.
• The generally nameless western shoreline from Lake Almanor West to the town of Chester, starting at Goose Bay and ending at the termination of the large diversion channel that mitigates high-waters in the Feather River above Chester.
• The northern shoreline from Chester, running northeast then southwest, and back to Hwy 36; includes the mouth of Benner and Last Chance creeks and seasonal springs.

Much of the southern shore of the lake is in the Lassen National Forest, so recreation management is shared by PG&E and the United States Forest Service.
Large areas along the northern shore of the lake are seasonal pasture used for summer and fall cattle grazing; some areas of these grazing grounds are under-water in wetter years.

The wetlands at the north end also serve as breeding grounds for a variety of migratory waterfowl, most prominently Canada geese and various species of ducks including mallard, teal, and wigeon. Other large birds to be viewed around the lake are heron, osprey, and occasionally bald eagles, which nest on the Peninsula and West Shore. Each year in late June and early July, large insect hatches occur on the lake during the dusk hours. The insects, which the fish feed on, attract local fly fisherman who use imitation flies to catch the feeding fish.

This information courtesy of Wikipedia, 9-May-2015


CALIFORNIA DROUGHT IMPACT

The severe and ongoing drought in California has affected several of the water bodies throughout the state. Please be aware there is potential impact to the PG&E recreation facilities.

Lake Almanor is managed by Pacific Gas and Electric, (PG&E). Below is a place to start should you want to validate the status of a lake or specific campground, etc. prior to planning your visit to Lake Almanor. In light of the on-going drought, this is highly recommended.

PG&E Recreational Areas