Lake Success (California)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2023) |
| Lake Success | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Looking north in an aerial view of Success Dam, located near Porterville | |
  Lake Success  Lake Success | |
| Location | Tulare County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°04′N 118°55′W / 36.06°N 118.92°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Tule River |
| Primary outflows | Tule River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4 mi (6.4 km) |
| Max. width | 2 mi (3.2 km) |
| Surface area | 2,450 acres (990 ha) |
| Average depth | 645 ft (197 m) |
| Max. depth | 653 ft (199 m) |
| Water volume | 82,000 acre⋅ft (101,000,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Surface elevation | 640 ft (200 m) |
| Islands | Boat Island |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
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Success Lake is a reservoir near Porterville, California, on the Tule River at coordinates 36°04′N 118°55′W / 36.06°N 118.92°W[1] close to the southern end of the Central Valley. It is formed by Success Dam and has a capacity of 82,000 acre-feet (101,000,000 m3). The dam, standing at 156 ft (48 m) tall, is an earth dam owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The construction of the dam was completed in 1961.[2] While the primary purpose is flood control, the lake also serves for irrigation and recreation purposes. California State Route 190 crosses the lake via its only bridge.
History[edit]
A cemetery was moved to allow the creation of Success Lake. The Tule River was originally only about four feet wide. The recreation areas of Bartlett Park and Porterville Beach were removed in the construction of the dam. Several families around the area lost their homes, including the Wilcox family, Lewis family, Templeton family, and the Kaufman family.
Construction Period (1958-1961): Construction of Success Dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1961. The dam is a concrete gravity structure standing at a height of approximately 156 feet (48 meters) and spanning about 1,390 feet (423 meters) across the Tule River canyon.
In 1999, surveys indicated that Success Dam might fail in an earthquake. The lake level was then drawn down to 28,000 acre-feet in 2004, contributing to the loss of the marina and inhibiting recreation. A later study showed that the failure risk was lower than the earlier study indicated, and the reservoir was refilled to 65,000 acre-feet.[3]
Wildlife[edit]
A 1,499-acre wildlife refuge protects a portion of the northwest shoreline and is considered to be one of the best bird-watching sites in Tulare County. American pelicans and Canada geese are often seen on the lake, while mallards, grebes and coots shelter closer to the shore. Bald eagles soar over the lake, while migratory shorebirds wade in the shallows. Wetlands along the shoreline provide a habitat for herons, egrets and kingfishers. The surrounding grasslands and pothole ponds are a fine place to view black-tailed deer, California quail, cottontails and jackrabbits. Some of the areas are open for limited hunting on a seasonal schedule. Trails make access to the wildlife area easy for hikers.
In fiction[edit]
In the science fiction novel Lucifer's Hammer, written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, fragments of a comet strike the Earth, causing massive tidal waves to destroy most of the planet's coastal cities. Los Angeles is completely destroyed, and the collapse of dams throughout California causes the San Joaquin Valley to become an inland sea. The collapse of Success Dam is witnessed by two of the characters. After the disasters subside, an enclave of civilization forms in the fictional "Silver Valley", located slightly east or northeast of Springville, just north of the Middle Fork of the Tule River.
Lake Recreation[edit]
A 5 mph boat speed limit is imposed from dusk to dawn, so water-skiing and jet-skiing are forbidden during those hours.
Rocky Hill Campground offers only non-electric sites, but has a boat launch ramp and a picnic area. Day-use Bartlett Park has picnic shelters and a playground. There are no designated beach areas, but informal swim areas are located nearby.
Marina[edit]
The original Success Marina was conceived and built in the early 1960s.[4] The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers temporarily lowered the amount of water in the lake between 2012 and 2014 while tests were conducted regarding seismic faults near the dam. Those pool restrictions have since been eased.[5]
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
References[6][edit]
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Success
- ^ "Dams Owned and Operated by Federal Agencies" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Success Lake, California, USA Vacation Info: LakeLubbers". Lakes for Vacation, Recreation and Rentals - LakeLubbers. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
- ^ "Corps seeks marina operator at Success Lake".
- ^ "Lake Levels for Success Lake".
- ^ "Recreation.gov". Recreation.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "Success Lake, California, USA Vacation Info". Lakelubbers. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ staff, The Porterville Recorder (24 December 2001). "Local History: Success Lake Dam constructed in 1959". Porterville Recorder. Retrieved 2019-03-14.