Los Vaqueros Reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Los Vaqueros Reservoir was completed by the Contra Costa Water District in 1998 to improve the quality of drinking water for its 550,000 customers in Central and Eastern Contra Costa County in Northern California
. The reservoir is accessible via Vasco Road
from Brentwood, California
and Livermore, California
The Los Vaqueros watershed
comprises 19300 acres (78.1 km²) of open space surrounding the 1500 acres (6.1 km²) reservoir
. Water is pumped into the reservoir from a Delta intake on Old River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The intake is located just east of Discovery Bay
. Water is pumped into the reservoir when salinity is low, and used for drinking water when salinity in the Delta is too high. Water from the reservoir is released via a pipeline to the 48 miles (77.2 km) Contra Costa Canal
, which conveys water to six water treatment plants throughout the Water District's service area. The reservoir can store up to 100000 acre.ft of water. The earthen dam is 192 feet (58.5 m) high with a 1000 feet (304.8 m) crest length. It is made of 2.7 million cubic yards of fill material.
Benefits of the reservoir include water storage for drought or emergencies, a protected open space, and recreation. There are 55 miles (88.5 km) of hiking trails in the watershed. The watershed is open for fishing, hiking and other activities year-round. Electric rental boats are available, but no outside boats can be launched on the lake. There is no swimming in the reservoir. Another benefit is the protection of nearly 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of wildlife habitat in Eastern Contra Costa County. The watershed is currently home for many rare, threatened and endangered species including fairy shrimp
, bald
and golden eagles, Alameda whipsnake, western pond turtle
, California tiger salamander
, California red-legged frog
, San Joaquin kit fox, and the San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat. It also provides habitat for hundreds of common plant and animal species in the area. Strict environmental commitments with State and federal agencies, and a commitment to preserving the resource help preserve this site.
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...
. The reservoir is accessible via Vasco Road
Vasco Road (California)
Vasco Road is an unnumbered highway that connects Livermore, California and Brentwood, California. Although it is not part of the California State Highway system, it is the principal north-south commuter route serving eastern Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. The two counties are each responsible...
from Brentwood, California
Brentwood, California
Brentwood is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population is 51,481 as of 2010....
and Livermore, California
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
The Los Vaqueros watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
comprises 19300 acres (78.1 km²) of open space surrounding the 1500 acres (6.1 km²) reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
. Water is pumped into the reservoir from a Delta intake on Old River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The intake is located just east of Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay, California
Discovery Bay is a census-designated place in extreme eastern Contra Costa County, California in the United States about from San Francisco. As of 2010, its population was 13,352....
. Water is pumped into the reservoir when salinity is low, and used for drinking water when salinity in the Delta is too high. Water from the reservoir is released via a pipeline to the 48 miles (77.2 km) Contra Costa Canal
Contra Costa Canal
The Contra Costa Canal is a aqueduct in the U.S. state of California. It is part of the Central Valley Project managed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation to divert Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water as far as Martinez, California in Central Contra Costa County. The Contra Costa Canal is...
, which conveys water to six water treatment plants throughout the Water District's service area. The reservoir can store up to 100000 acre.ft of water. The earthen dam is 192 feet (58.5 m) high with a 1000 feet (304.8 m) crest length. It is made of 2.7 million cubic yards of fill material.
Benefits of the reservoir include water storage for drought or emergencies, a protected open space, and recreation. There are 55 miles (88.5 km) of hiking trails in the watershed. The watershed is open for fishing, hiking and other activities year-round. Electric rental boats are available, but no outside boats can be launched on the lake. There is no swimming in the reservoir. Another benefit is the protection of nearly 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of wildlife habitat in Eastern Contra Costa County. The watershed is currently home for many rare, threatened and endangered species including fairy shrimp
Fairy shrimp
Anostraca is one of the four orders of crustaceans in the class Branchiopoda; its members are also known as fairy shrimp. They are usually long . Most species have 20 body segments, bearing 11 pairs of leaf-like phyllopodia , and the body lacks a carapace...
, bald
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
and golden eagles, Alameda whipsnake, western pond turtle
Western pond turtle
The western pond turtle , or Pacific pond turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle growing to approximately 20 cm in carapace length. It is limited to the west coast of the United States of America and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California...
, California tiger salamander
California Tiger Salamander
The 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...
, California red-legged frog
California Red-legged Frog
The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large species of frog. It is known under the scientific name Rana draytonii, after being long included with the northern red-legged frog The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large (4.4–14 cm) species...
, San Joaquin kit fox, and the San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat. It also provides habitat for hundreds of common plant and animal species in the area. Strict environmental commitments with State and federal agencies, and a commitment to preserving the resource help preserve this site.
Expansion plans
Contra Costa Water District is pursuing a plan to enlarge the reservoir. In March, 2010, CCWD approved a capacity increase to 160000 acre.ft. Costs will be passed on to those that receive water from the water District. Mitigation for the loss of sensitive wildlife habitat will be necessary.See also
- List of lakes in California
- List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area
- List of reservoirs and dams in California