Trinity Lake
Encyclopedia
Trinity Lake, previously called Clair Engle Lake, is a lake
on the Trinity River
formed by the Trinity Dam
and located in Trinity County, California
, The dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake has a capacity of 2447650 acre.ft, making it one of the largest reservoirs in California
. The lake's surface is at an elevation of 2370 feet. Trinity Lake captures and stores water for the Central Valley Project
, which provides the Central Valley
with water for irrigation
and produces hydroelectric power. This lake is known for its many small arms, glassy inlets, and great water skiing conditions.
After the death in office of California United States Senator
Clair Engle
in 1964, the lake was renamed in his honor; however, this name never received wide currency, particularly with local residents, and the name eventually was officially reverted to the widely-used original one. Asking a local resident for directions to "Clair Engle Lake" may result in a prank, in which the unsuspecting individual is sent to the local sewage treatment facility.
The lake is serviced by three marinas, Trinity Alps Marina located on the southern end in view of the Dam; Cedar Stock marina on the Stuart Fork arm on the west end of the lake; and Trinity Center
marina at the northern end of the main arm of the lake. Most of the marinas rent houseboats to vacationers year round. Most Marinas on the lake are now owned and operated by Forever Resorts, with the only exception being the Trinity Alps Marina.
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,...
on the Trinity River
Trinity River (California)
The Trinity River is the longest tributary of the Klamath River, approximately long, in northwestern California in the United States. It drains an area of the Coast Ranges, including the southern Klamath Mountains, northwest of the Sacramento Valley...
formed by the Trinity Dam
Trinity Dam
Trinity Dam is an earth dam on the Trinity River that forms Trinity Lake near Weaverville, California. Trinity Lake was previously called Clair Engle Lake. The earthfill dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Construction was completed in 1962. Trinity Lake has a capacity of , making it...
and located in Trinity County, California
Trinity County, California
Trinity County is a large, rugged and mountainous, heavily forested county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of California, along the Trinity River and within the Salmon/Klamath Mountains. It covers an area of over two million acres , and as of the 2010 census its population...
, The dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake has a capacity of 2447650 acre.ft, making it one of the largest reservoirs in 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...
. The lake's surface is at an elevation of 2370 feet. Trinity Lake captures and stores water for the Central Valley Project
Central Valley Project
The Central Valley Project is a Bureau of Reclamation federal water project in the U.S. state of California. It was devised in 1933 in order to provide irrigation and municipal water to much of California's Central Valley—by regulating and storing water in reservoirs in the water-rich northern...
, which provides the Central Valley
California Central Valley
California's Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of California. It is home to California's most productive agricultural efforts. The valley stretches approximately from northwest to southeast inland and parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast. Its northern half is...
with water for irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
and produces hydroelectric power. This lake is known for its many small arms, glassy inlets, and great water skiing conditions.
After the death in office of California United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Clair Engle
Clair Engle
Clair Engle was an American politician of the Democratic Party and a United States Senator from California.- Early years :Engle was born in Bakersfield...
in 1964, the lake was renamed in his honor; however, this name never received wide currency, particularly with local residents, and the name eventually was officially reverted to the widely-used original one. Asking a local resident for directions to "Clair Engle Lake" may result in a prank, in which the unsuspecting individual is sent to the local sewage treatment facility.
The lake is serviced by three marinas, Trinity Alps Marina located on the southern end in view of the Dam; Cedar Stock marina on the Stuart Fork arm on the west end of the lake; and Trinity Center
Trinity Center, California
Trinity Center is a census-designated place in Trinity County, California. Trinity Center is located north of Weaverville. It is home to Trinity Lake, a popular summer tourist destination. The telephone prefix is 266-xxxx or more rarely 286-xxxx...
marina at the northern end of the main arm of the lake. Most of the marinas rent houseboats to vacationers year round. Most Marinas on the lake are now owned and operated by Forever Resorts, with the only exception being the Trinity Alps Marina.