Collins Lake
{{short description|Man-made lake in California, United States}}
{{For|the lake in Wisconsin|Collins Lake (Portage County, Wisconsin)}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Collins Lake
| alt = View of Collins Lake with a view from the Hillside
| other_name = Virginia Ranch Reservoir
| image = Collins Lake.jpg
| caption = View from the Hillside
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Yuba County, California,
United States
| coords = {{coord|39|20|15.44|N|121|19|37.64|W|region:US-CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| lake_type = Reservoir
| inflow = Dry Creek, runoff
| outflow = Dry Creek, irrigation
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United States
| length = {{convert|4.60|km|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1.85|km|abbr=on}}
| area = {{convert|4.05|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth = {{convert|40.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| volume = {{convert|57000|acre.ft|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|361|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities =
| pushpin_map = California#USA
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Collins Lake in California, USA.
| pushpin_map_caption =
| website = https://collinslake.com/
| reference =
}}
Collins Lake, impounded by Virginia Ranch Dam, is a freshwater man-made lake with {{convert|1009|acre|km2}} located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains north of Sacramento, California.{{cite web
| work = bvid.org
| title = About Browns Valley Irrigation District
| author = Robert Bordsen
| url = http://bvid.org/about.html
| accessdate = 2009-04-15
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080907171004/http://www.bvid.org/about.html
| archive-date = 2008-09-07
| url-status = dead
}} The lake was originally created to provide additional irrigation water to Browns Valley and Loma Rica. It still serves that purpose as well as a recreation and fishing lake.
History
Collins Lake's founding organization, Browns Valley Irrigation District (BVID), was established in 1888. Demand for irrigation water in the area quickly exceeded availability. As early as 1919 BVID began exploring the idea of damming the water flowing through Virginia Ranch in order to satisfy Browns Valley and Loma Rica. In 1950 a permit was issued for a {{convert|105|ft|m|adj=on}} high dam which would have created a {{convert|35000|acre.ft}} reservoir. Lack of funds for the five year, 1.36 million dollar project prevented it from being started. Ten years later a 4.8 million dollar loan was approved for a {{convert|152|ft|m|adj=on}} high embankment dam which would create a lake with {{convert|57000|acre.ft}} of capacity. Virginia Ranch Dam was completed in 3 years, creating Collins Lake, named for Merle Collins who played a significant role in promoting the project.{{cite web
| work = bvid.org
| title = About Browns Valley Irrigation District
| author = Robert Bordsen
| url = http://bvid.org/about.html
| accessdate = 2009-04-15
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080907171004/http://www.bvid.org/about.html
| archive-date = 2008-09-07
| url-status = dead
}}
In 1967 Pineland Development started a concession for recreation and camping on the lakefront. Since 1972 the concession has been family run and has expanded to include 109 RV hookup campsites as well as tent camping sites.{{cite web
| work = collinslake.com
| title = Collins Lake Recreation Area
| author = Theresa P
| url = http://www.collinslake.com/
| accessdate = 2009-04-15 }} The campground and day use areas are gated but open at dawn year round.
See also
References
External links
- [https://collinslake.com/ Official Collins Lake Website]
- [http://bvid.org/ Brown Valley Irrigation District Website]
- [http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?CLS California Data Exchange Rain Gauge at Collins Lake]
{{authority control}}
Category:Reservoirs in Yuba County, California