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Drought takes toll on Castaic Lake

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 24, 2009 at 7:20 am

From the Santa Clarita Signal:

The statewide drought is prompting the Metropolitan Water District to siphon water from Castaic Lake into its water service system, which may make it harder to enjoy boating there this summer, a lake official said.

Castaic Lake is 21 feet below full, with a current depth of 309 feet, said Ralph Searcy, supervising lifeguard for the Castaic Lake Recreation Area. Normal depth when the lake is full is 330 feet. If a trend by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to draft lake water to supplement its water supply continues, the lake level could dip to more than 80 feet from full, to a depth of 250 feet by July 4, he said. Dropping lake levels by 80 feet or more mean the Castaic Lake’s West Boat Ramp will close, Searcy said. The West Boat Ramp can launch up to 175 boats per day, he said.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, which operates recreational activities on Castaic Lake, may slash the number of boats it allows on the lake in half, from 500 boats to 250 per day, Searcy said. “As the surface area of the lake shrinks, there is less room for boats,” he said.

Read more from the Santa Clarita Signal by clicking here.

May 24, 2009 · Filed Under Southern California

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