Nicasio Reservoir
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Nicasio Reservoir
| image = Nicasio Reservoir in Marin County California.jpg
| caption = Nicasio Reservoir seen from Nicasio Valley Road
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Marin County, California
| coords = {{coord|38|04|36|N|122|45|16|W|region:US-CA_type:waterbody_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}
| type = reservoir
| inflow = Nicasio Creek
| outflow = Nicasio Creek
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United States
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|845|acre|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume = {{convert|22400|acre.ft|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|144|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities = Nicasio, California
| pushpin_map = California#USA
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Nicasio Reservoir in California, USA.
| pushpin_map_caption =
| website =
| reference = {{gnis|229536|Nicasio Reservoir}}
}}
File:Nicasio Reservoir aerial.jpg
Nicasio Reservoir is a shallow, artificial reservoir in the Nicasio Valley region of Marin County, California, United States. It covers {{convert|845|acre|km2}} and sits in a {{convert|35.9|sqmi|km2}} drainage basin. It was created by the construction of Seeger Dam on the Nicasio Creek in {{start date and age|1961|p=y}}. Seeger Dam is a {{convert|115|ft|m|adj=on}} tall, {{convert|400|ft|m|adj=on}} long earthen dam owned by the Marin Municipal Water District.{{cite web|url=http://damsafety.water.ca.gov/docs/Juris%20(N-S)10-07.pdf|format=PDF|title=Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California|accessdate=2008-01-17}}
Controversy
The construction in the dam aroused much controversy among longtime residents of the area.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} The Water District forced the displacement of many farms, including the McIsaac family farm and the Tomasini Ranch, on which the majority of the reservoir sits.{{cite news |first=Jacob |last=Resneck |title=Nicasio History Revealed by Low Reservoir |publisher=Point Reyes Light |date=October 28, 2004 }} The controversy stems from the fact the water from the reservoir is rarely used by the Water District, that the broad and shallow nature of the reservoir leads to quick evaporation, and that the dam has blocked valuable spawning areas for endangered coho salmon{{cite web |url=http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/status_reviews/salmon_steelhead/multiple_species/2011_status_review_california_coastal_chinook_and_central_california_coast_coho.pdf |title=North-Central California Coast Recovery Program 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation of California Coastal Chinook Salmon ESU, Central California Coast Coho Salmon ESU |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |year=2011 |accessdate=2013-12-03}} and threatened steelhead trout.{{cite web |url=http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/status_reviews/salmon_steelhead/steelhead/2011_status_review_central_california_coastal_steelhead_northern_california_steelhead.pdf |title=North-Central California Coast Recovery Domain 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation of Central California Coastal Steelhead DPS Northern California Steelhead DPS |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |year=2011|accessdate=2013-12-03}} Construction of Seeger Dam wiped out the salmon population in Nicasio Creek. The District briefly and unsuccessfully attempted to trap salmon below the dam and transport them by truck further up Nicasio Creek and Halleck Creek.
Ecology
A river otter (Lontra canadensis) was collected by the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the southwest corner of Nicasio Reservoir in January 2008.{{cite web |title=Lontra canadensis brevipilosus |date=2008-01-29 |publisher=Museum of Vertebrate Zoology |url=http://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:223471 |accessdate=2011-05-23 }}
Recreational uses
The reservoir is used for recreational purposes; mainly fishing and hiking. Largemouth bass, carp and catfish are caught in the lake. There are problems with illegal poaching.{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}}
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for fish caught in Nicasio Reservoir based on levels of mercury or PCBs found in the fish species.{{Cite news|url=https://oehha.ca.gov/fish/advisories/nicasio-reservoir|title=Nicasio Reservoir|last=Admin|first=OEHHA|date=2014-12-30|work=OEHHA|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{WestMarin}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Reservoirs in Marin County, California