Surface area 845 acres (3.42 km) Area 3.42 km² | Primary inflows Basin countries United States Surface elevation 44 m Inflow source Nicasio Creek Cities Nicasio | |
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Water volume 22,400 acre·ft (27,600,000 m) Similar Lagunitas Creek, Bon Tempe Lake, Kent Lake, Alpine Lake, Point Reyes National | ||
Aerial view of nicasio ca 94946 marin county and the nicasio reservoir
Nicasio Reservoir is a shallow, artificial reservoir in the Nicasio Valley region of Marin County, California, United States. It covers 845 acres (3.42 km2) and sits in a 35.9 square miles (93 km2) drainage basin. It was created by the construction of Seeger Dam on the Nicasio Creek in 1961. Seeger Dam is a 115-foot (35 m) tall, 400-foot (120 m) long earthen dam owned by the Marin Municipal Water District.
Contents
- Aerial view of nicasio ca 94946 marin county and the nicasio reservoir
- Map of Nicasio Reservoir California 94946 USA
- Nicasio reservoir marin county
- ControversyEdit
- EcologyEdit
- Recreational usesEdit
- References
Map of Nicasio Reservoir, California 94946, USA
Nicasio reservoir marin county
ControversyEdit
The construction in the dam aroused much controversy among longtime residents of the area. The Water District forced the displacement of many farms, including the McIsaac family farm and the Tomasini Ranch, on which the majority of the reservoir sits. The controversy stems from the fact the water from the reservoir is rarely used by the Water District, that the broad and shallow nature of the reservoir leads to quick evaporation, and that the dam has blocked valuable spawning areas for endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout. Construction of Seeger Dam wiped out the salmon population in Nicasio Creek. The District briefly attempted to trap salmon below the dam and transport them by truck further up Nicasio Creek and Halleck Creek. However, the effort proved unsuccessful.
EcologyEdit
A river otter (Lontra canadensis) was collected by the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the southwest corner of Nicasio Reservoir in January, 2008.
Recreational usesEdit
The reservoir is used for recreational purposes; mainly fishing and hiking. Largemouth bass, carp and catfish are caught in the lake. There are problems with illegal poaching.