Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County, California)

This lake was created in 1972, and completed in 1973, as a holding reservoir for the California State Water Project. The lake was named after a pyramid-shaped rock carved out by engineers building U.S. Route 99. The plant generates electricity from the water that flows down from Pyramid Lake to Castaic Lake, and can store energy by pumping water in the reverse direction when desired. Its name comes from the Pyramid Rock, created when a ridge was cut through in 1932 by the Ridge Route Alternate (US 99). Pyramid Rock still exists directly in front of the dam. In 1843, gold was discovered near what is now Pyramid Lake, in the Santa Feliciana Canyon, just south of what is now Pyramid Dam. The small find failed to trigger a rush to the mountainous countryside. Only Francisco Lopes, owner of Rancho Temescal, a Mexican land grant, and a handful of ranchers attempted to settle the region. ==Geography==

Pyramid Lake is built up along the steep canyon walls surrounding Piru Creek. The reservoir lies on the border between the Angeles National Forest and the Los Padres National Forest, in the northwestern portion of Los Angeles County. It is to the west of Interstate 5 (I-5) south of Tejon Pass. The former alignment of US 99 is below the waters here, replaced by I-5. The lake also lies between the Sierra Pelona and the Topatopa Mountains. Just below the dam, Piru Creek returns to its natural state as it winds down through the Topatopa Mountains to feed into the Lake Piru reservoir and later the Santa Clara River. Water from Pyramid Lake continues through the Angeles Tunnel to Castaic Lake, which is the terminus of the west branch of the aqueduct. ==Recreation==

Pyramid Lake offers boating, fishing, jet skiing, and picnic areas (including 5 unique sites that are accessible only by boat), and courtesy docks. Access is from exiting Interstate 5 at Vista Del Lago Road (Exit 191). Fishing is allowed from every location at Pyramid Lake. This includes fish such as large mouth bass, small mouth bass, striped bass, blue gill, crappie, and some trout. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe-eating advisory for fish caught in Piru Creek based on levels of mercury or PCBs found in local species. Access to the lake was temporarily closed in June 2024 due to the impacts of the Post Fire. ==Gallery==

File:PyramidLkAngelesNatlFor.JPG |Pyramid Lake earthworks. File:Pyramid Lake seen from the air, Pacific Ocean in the distance.jpg| Pyramid Lake seen from the air with the Pacific Ocean in the distance. File:Pyramid Lake California.jpg |Pyramid Lake and San Emigdio Mountains. File:Pyramid Lake, Ca. View South towards dam from boat, Oct 2010.jpg |View south towards Pyramid Dam from boat. == See also ==