Lake Thomas A Edison Explained

Lake Thomas A Edison
Inflow:Mono Creek, Cold Creek
Outflow:Mono Creek[1]
Basin Countries:United States
Pushpin Map:California#USA
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of the reservoir in California, USA.

Lake Thomas A Edison (also known as Thomas A. Edison Lake and Edison Lake) is a reservoir in the Sierra National Forest and in Fresno County, California. It is in the Sierra Nevada, and near the Pacific Crest Trail.

The reservoir's waters are impounded by Vermilion Valley Dam (National ID CA00441), which was completed in .[1] The reservoir and dam are part of the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project.

Hydrology

The reservoir discharges into Mono Creek,[1] a tributary of the South Fork San Joaquin River. However, some of its water is diverted to Huntington Lake by means of the Ward Tunnel.[2]

Vermilion Valley Dam

Vermilion Valley Dam
Coordinates:37.37°N -118.9872°W
Country:United States
Location:Fresno County, California
Opening:1954
Owner:Southern California Edison
Dam Type:Earthen
Dam Crosses:Mono Creek
Res Name:Lake Thomas A Edison

Vermilion Valley Dam is an earthen dam long and high, with of freeboard. Southern California Edison owns the dam.[1]

Recreation

Located in Sierra National Forest near the Pacific Crest Trail, Lake Thomas A Edison is the centerpiece of Vermilion Valley Resort and Vermillion Campground, which support boating, camping, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and horseback riding.[3] [4]

Access

The lake is three hours away by car from Fresno. Take State Route 168 east to Huntington Lake, head east on Kaiser Pass Road. The road crosses Kaiser Pass (elevation) and closes during the winter months. The United States Forest Service does not recommend it for buses, large motor homes, or vehicles towing trailers.[5]

A ferry crosses the lake twice a day (Inactive in 2021 due to extreme low levels of water - travel service to/from the trailhead can be arranged through Vermillion Valley Resort or hikers may follow a trail along the north side of the lake for trail access), linking Vermilion Valley Resort with the John Muir Wilderness trailhead and providing access to and from the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.[5]

Nomenclature

The lake was named after American inventor Thomas Edison to mark the 75th anniversary of his invention of the incandescent light bulb.[6] The dam was named after the valley it flooded, noted for its reddish soil.[5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (T-Z). California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams. December 21, 2012.
  2. Web site: The Big Creek System. December 21, 2012.
  3. Web site: Welcome to Vermilion Valley Resort. December 21, 2012.
  4. Web site: Facility Details - Vermillion, CA. December 21, 2012.
  5. Web site: Lake Thomas A. Edison. December 21, 2012.
  6. Web site: Description of the Big Creek System. December 21, 2012.