Millerton Lake

Millerton Lake
Location	Sierra Nevada Fresno- / Madera-Counties, California
Coordinates	37°02′33″N 119°39′16″W / 37.0425°N 119.6545°W / 37.0425; -119.6545Coordinates: 37°02′33″N 119°39′16″W / 37.0425°N 119.6545°W / 37.0425; -119.6545
Lake type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	San Joaquin River
Primary outflows	Friant-Kern Canal Madera Canal San Joaquin River
Catchment area	1,675 sq mi (4,340 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	4,900 acres (2,000 ha)
Max. depth	319 ft (97 m)
Water volume	520,528 acre·ft (642,062,000 m3)
Surface elevation	561 ft (171 m)
References	U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Millerton Lake

Millerton Lake is an artificial lake near the town of Friant about 15 mi (24 km) north of downtown Fresno. The reservoir was created by the construction of Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River which with the lake serves as much of the county line between Fresno County to the south and Madera County to the north.

Part of the Central Valley Project, the dam was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and was completed in 1942. The lake stores water for irrigation, which is distributed by the Madera and Friant-Kern Canals to the San Joaquin Valley. It has a capacity of 520,528 acre·ft (642,062,000 m³).

Secondary uses include flood control and recreation, including swimming, fishing, water skiing and camping. A 25 MW hydroelectric plant operated by the Friant Power Authority produces electricity from large releases and two smaller plants use water released for a fish hatchery and to maintain minimum-flow in the river.

Prior to the construction of Friant Dam, the current lake bed was the site of the town of Millerton, the first county seat of Fresno County.

See also

• List of largest reservoirs of California

References

• Department of Water Resources (2011). "Station Meta Data: Friant Dam (Millerton) (MIL)". California Data Exchange Center. State of California. http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/profile?s=MIL&type=dam. Retrieved 24 August 2011. 
• Central Valley Project Friant Division (4 June 2009). "Friant Dam". U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Friant+Dam&groupName=Overview. Retrieved 24 August 2011. 
• Central Valley Project Friant Division (21 April 2011). "Friant Division Project". U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Friant%20Division%20Project&pageType=ProjectPage. Retrieved 24 August 2011. 

External links

• Friant Water Authority
• Millerton Lake State Recreation Area
• Map of lake expansion proposals
• Millerton Lake Fishing