Wednesday, September 16, 2009

San Luis Dam Reservoir - Outdoor Wednesday #36

 It's a dry year here in California!
These pictures were taken on Monday, September 14, 2009.
  Before the current Pacheco Pass was completed back in the late 1960's, the main highway went through the middle of the current reservoir.  As a child I remember my dad telling us when we traveled on the old road, that one day it will all be under water.  Later as a teenager,  I watched the reservoir fill up and the country roads and farms disappear. 
A little history.....
The San Luis Reservoir is part of the California State Water Project, a network of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations, and 550 miles of canals and major conduits, that distribute water from Northern California to the agricultural industries of the San Joaquin Valley, and to the metropoli of Southern California.
The earth-fill gravity embankment dam is 305 feet (93 m) tall and was completed in 1967. It is located between Los Banos, California and Gilroy, California along Pacheco Pass. San Luis Reservoir is the largest off-stream reservoir in the United States, with a capacity of 2,041,000 acre-feet (2.52 x 109 m3). San Luis Creek is a small stream that flows through the area and it is sometimes listed as the dam's watershed, even though it is an off-stream reservoir. The dam is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, but is operated by the California Department of Water Resources to store water for its State Water Project.


Happy Outdoor Wednesday. 
Thanks again to Susan for hosting this fun event.  Ror more participants go to "A Southern Daydreamer".

"Mumzie"

10 comments:

JLS Hall (Joysweb) said...

Pretty spectacular scenery. I've never been to California, but hope to get there someday. Great photos!

Mary Bergfeld said...

The scenery is spectacular. Thank you for sharing your photos with us.
Have a wonderful day.

Pam said...

Beautiful scenery. It has been a wet year in Georgia! It seems like we have had continuous rain.

Anonymous said...

Wow... Fabulous post and great pics... thanks for the bit of history! :)

xoxoxox
Donna Marie

The Green Pea said...

The scenery and the water are so beautiful. Your photos are breath taking. Great job. sandi

Micki said...

The scenery is gorgeous...thanks for sharing the pics.
Micki

Regina said...

Great outdoor shots!

Anonymous said...

hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Love your pictures and yes, it is just like being there! Good old California! I sure love it!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Sue said...

Yvonne, I have some really pretty pictures of the reservoir from our trips to CA over the last year. Your photos are much nicer than mine, however since mine were all taken from the car! Sorry I have been so lax in my visiting - crazy busy these days... just know I will visit when I can, ok? Sue