Castaic Lake Is Going Down for Servicing

The great drawdown of Castaic Lake began this week.

Officials are slowly lowering the surface level of the popular lake 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles to allow for a once-a-decade series of repairs.

The lake should reach its lowest point -- 60 feet below normal summertime levels -- about Dec. 22, said Lori Mathis, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Water Resources.

But boaters can rest assured.

The drawdown is expected to have little effect on boating and fishing, said Lori Bennett, regional superintendent for the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, which oversees recreational activities at the lake.

“Boaters will have to be cautious about submerged objects, but there will still be plenty of water in the lake,” Bennett said Monday.

The 2,235-acre lake is open every day except Christmas from sunrise to sunset for boating, fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking and seasonal swimming.

Bennett said visitors may call the department’s information line at (661) 257-4050 to check conditions. Refilling is scheduled to start Jan. 1 and will take about four months to reach normal levels, Mathis said.

The lake can hold up to 320,000 acre-feet of water, and usually contains about 315,000 acre-feet in the summer. The lake will be reduced by 50,000 acre-feet in the drawdown. An acre-foot is 325,821 gallons, roughly enough water to supply two families for a year.

Several projects will be completed during the drawdown:

* Repair of erosion damage to Elderberry Dam;

* Repair and refurbishment of parts of the Castaic power plant that are usually submerged;

* Completion of silt removal from cooling water systems at the power plant;

* Dredging of Elderberry forebay;

* 10-year inspection of pipelines.

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, which includes Castaic Lake.

The water released from the lake will go to the Metropolitan Water District and Castaic Lake Water Agency and will be distributed to their customers.

amanda.covarrubias@latimes.com

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Lake facts

Q: What is Lake Castaic?

A: The man-made lake is part of the State Water Project. The lake, created by 425-foot-high Castaic Dam, has 29 miles of shoreline.

Q: What are its features?

A: Castaic Lake has two bodies of water. The lower area is for non-power boating and canoeing. The upper lake is for sailing, power boating, water and jet skiing, and fishing. The lake is stocked with bass, trout and catfish.

Q: How does the Castaic Dam fit into the State Water Project?

A: The State Water Project was begun in 1957 to bring water from mountain runoffs and lakes in Northern California to the southern part of the state. At the heart of that project is the 444-mile California Aqueduct -- Castaic Lake is the terminus of the aqueduct’s western branch.

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Source: State of California;Times reports