Lake San Antonio
Encyclopedia
Lake San Antonio is a lake
in southern Monterey County, California
. The lake is formed by an earthfill dam
on the San Antonio River
. The dam is 202 feet (62 m) tall and was completed in 1965 under Monterey County District Engineer Loran Bunte Jr . The lake and dam are owned by the Monterey County Water Authority. The lake has a capacity of 335000 acre.ft
Lake San Antonio's primary purpose is to provide groundwater
. Without the lake, the river would be nearly dry in the summer months. With water in the river year-round, more of it can seep into the ground.
, waterskiing, fishing
and camping
are popular recreational activities at the lake, particularly in the summer. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent them at the lake.
Horseback riding and mountain biking are also popular; the South Shore of Lake San Antonio has 26 miles of trails. The North Shore of Lake San Antonio is unique, as it is one of the few lakes in California that permits you to camp on the water's edge. Because of this, it has gained a growing popularity with boaters, who are allowed to keep their vessel in the water by their campsite. There is ample shoreline camping at North Shore. Most campers prefer North Shore over Lake Nacimiento (Located 9 miles south), because of the much larger campsites, and ability to camp on the water's edge.
, one of the largest triathlon events in the world. The course, a half-Ironman, is considered to be especially gruelling.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in southern Monterey County, California
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
. The lake is formed by an earthfill dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on the San Antonio River
San Antonio River (California)
The San Antonio River is a river in southern Monterey County, California.-Geography:The river travels southeast from its headwaters in the Santa Lucia Range in the Los Padres National Forest and into Lake San Antonio. This is a reservoir behind the San Antonio Dam, an earth-fill dam on the river...
. The dam is 202 feet (62 m) tall and was completed in 1965 under Monterey County District Engineer Loran Bunte Jr . The lake and dam are owned by the Monterey County Water Authority. The lake has a capacity of 335000 acre.ft
Lake San Antonio's primary purpose is to provide groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
. Without the lake, the river would be nearly dry in the summer months. With water in the river year-round, more of it can seep into the ground.
Area Activities
BoatingBoating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, waterskiing, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
are popular recreational activities at the lake, particularly in the summer. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent them at the lake.
Horseback riding and mountain biking are also popular; the South Shore of Lake San Antonio has 26 miles of trails. The North Shore of Lake San Antonio is unique, as it is one of the few lakes in California that permits you to camp on the water's edge. Because of this, it has gained a growing popularity with boaters, who are allowed to keep their vessel in the water by their campsite. There is ample shoreline camping at North Shore. Most campers prefer North Shore over Lake Nacimiento (Located 9 miles south), because of the much larger campsites, and ability to camp on the water's edge.
Camping
Lake San Antonio has over 500 campsites. Many campsites have RV hookups. Sites are available both directly on the north shore and on the south shore of the lake, as well as in the more forested areas a short walk away.Wildlife
Deer frequent the campsites, even lounging around during daylight hours near campsites. Other wildlife that may be spotted include bears, snakes, and wild pigs. Eagles frequent the lake and tours are offered during select months. The North shore offers campsites on the shore where you can leave your boat moored in the water rather than launching it every day.Bald Eagles
Lake San Antonio is a popular winter spot for the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States. Monterey County Parks provides tours in January and February to show interested visitors the bald eagle in its native habitat. These tours must be reserved in advance, as they usually sell out weeks before they take place.Wildflower Triathlon
Lake San Antonio is the site of the annual Wildflower TriathlonWildflower Triathlon
The Wildflower Triathlon is a triathlon held at Lake San Antonio in Central California since 1983, the first winner being legendary Dean "The Machine" Harper. The last place finisher was Paul "Mr. Liarpants" Huddle...
, one of the largest triathlon events in the world. The course, a half-Ironman, is considered to be especially gruelling.
External links
- Lake San Antonio official information from Monterey County Parks
- Cal Dept of Water:Lake San Antonio monthly water level