Lake Lagunita
Encyclopedia
Lake Lagunita is an artificial dry lake
in Stanford University
, California
, located on the western side of the Stanford campus near the Lagunita residences.
to a three-meter depth along with artificial water level maintenance, allowing recreational use by students. However, the lake has not been artificially filled since the late 1990s, due to problems either with the lake's damming walls or with conservation efforts.
As the lake is no longer permanently filled, it serves as a drainage basin and contains vernal pools throughout the winter and spring months. It is during this time that it serves as a vital breeding ground for many amphibians.
Birds:
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
in Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, located on the western side of the Stanford campus near the Lagunita residences.
Source
During winters with normal rainfall, the lake used to be filled by diversion from San Francisquito CreekSan Francisquito Creek
San Francisquito Creek is a creek that flows into southwest San Francisco Bay in California, United States of America. Historically it was called the Arroyo de San Francisco by Juan Bautista de Anza in 1776...
to a three-meter depth along with artificial water level maintenance, allowing recreational use by students. However, the lake has not been artificially filled since the late 1990s, due to problems either with the lake's damming walls or with conservation efforts.
As the lake is no longer permanently filled, it serves as a drainage basin and contains vernal pools throughout the winter and spring months. It is during this time that it serves as a vital breeding ground for many amphibians.
Uses
Those who enjoy exercise can take advantage of the lake's scenic perimeter to jog or walk without distraction on the 0.9 miles (1.4 km) trail. Many dormitory residences, row houses, and several fraternities are located near the lake, including the Lagunita residences, Roble Hall, Enchanted Broccoli Forest (EBF), Narnia, Kappa Alpha, and Jerry.Wildlife
Amphibians:- California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense): During the winter, the lake is the breeding ground for a population of California tiger salamanderCalifornia Tiger SalamanderThe California tiger salamander is a vulnerable amphibian native to Northern California. Previously considered to be a Tiger Salamander subspecies, the California tiger salamander was recently designated a separate species again...
s, which are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. However, the Lagunita population is believed to be at greater risk because individuals are frequently killed on nearby Junipero Serra Boulevard during their migrations to and from the lake. As a result, a $100,000 system of migration tunnels was placed underground in 2001. - Western toad (Bufo boreas)
- Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla)
Birds:
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
- Great egret (Ardea alba)