January 8, 2016
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Lake Casitas
Throughout Southern California there are many small lakes used as reservoirs for municipal water districts. Behind Ventura, and close to Ojai, is Lake Casitas, created by an earthen dam on Coyote Creek. This lake supplies water to parts of Ventura, a number of small communities, and Ojai, and secondarily acts as a flood control dam. The lake level is currently at approximately 42%. On the way to view the fire damage shown in my last post, we had these brief views of Lake Casitas.
Even on the small island in the center of the lake you can see that the high water line is several feet higher than the current lake level.
Lake Cachuma photos coming in the next post.
Comments (16)
I imagine that at one time the little island was completely underwater!
I thought so too, but Wikipedia says there is a small island in the center of the lake!
Central Cal is not doing well in my opinion, but we are getting some rain
I don't think much of CA is doing very well right now -- even Northern CA has been pretty dry! Rain will help some -- any rain -- we may get a little more today, and I hope you do too.
I think that little island in the middle of the lake is so cool. Reminded me of a similar island in a much larger lake in central Italy.
It is cool, Zakiah! I had never noticed it before, probably because when the lake is full its top is at about lake level, so it's quite tiny! We are now able to see all sorts of things that are not normally visible (like a bridge on the old road that flooded when they filled Lake Cachuma!). Last week's rain felt SO good, and it looks as if we are to get more tonight or tomorrow.
It looks a bit better now, than it did when I stopped there in July. There is hope for a good El Nino!
These shots were taken before this week's rains! We had a good couple of days of rain, but the next storms appear to be following a path considerably north of here. We can only hope -- and keep up the rain dances!
We are getting a good rain right now. I wish I could send you rain.
We had a good 2-day rain a week ago -- it's a good beginning, though we still need more!
@slmret: wiki is not always right - it is changed and edited by the readers... could be it has an island now and the person writing the entry has never seen the lake at full capacity...
True -- so I went digging! The USGS site mentions Main Island in the center of the lake -- it stands 500 ft above lake level. Blowing up the photo, this makes sense -- you can make out normal lake level, and there are trees on top of the island! Visibility depends on perspective, and I had never stopped at the same point to look over the lake -- there are hills in the way of other viewpoints.
Great photos ! I might never get to see California but I will see it thru your eyes!!
Makes us want to come all the more !! We hope to get to do that before the end of this year.
I hope you do get to California. Hopefully we'll have some rain, and the lakes will fill up. Glad you like the photos!
What a cool tiny island!
It is a cute little island!
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