Nicasio Reservoir

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Nicasio Reservoir
File:Nicasio Reservoir (177721862).jpg
Location Marin County, California
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Nicasio Creek
Primary outflows Nicasio Creek
Basin countries United States
Surface area 845 acres (3.42 km2)[1]
Water volume 22,400 acre·ft (27,600,000 m3)[1]
Surface elevation 144 ft (44 m)[2]
Settlements Nicasio, California
References [2]
File:Nicasio Reservoir aerial.jpg
Nicasio Reservoir aerial, 2012

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.[1]

Controversy

The construction in the dam aroused much controversy among longtime residents of the area.[citation needed] 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.[3] 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 species of salmon[3] and 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.[3]

Ecology

A river otter (Lontra canadensis) was collected by the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the southwest corner of Nicasio Reservoir in January, 2008.[4]

Recreational uses

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.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nicasio Reservoir
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.