Clear Lake Reservoir

Locations

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Clear Lake Reservoir: Description

Located in Modoc County, California near the Oregon border, Clear Lake Reservoir stands statuesque among the surrounding hills and plains. Constructed between 1908 and 1910 on the Lost River, the original earthfill dam was replaced with a newer, more stable concrete dam in 2002. Though the reservoir was first created to reduce water flow into the Tule Lake wetlands and store irrigation water for agricultural land, the area has since become home to one of the most important wildlife refuges in the state. Because of its large surface area (25,760 acres maximum) and relatively shallow depths, the reservoir has a high rate of evaporation during warm weather. Clear Lake Reservoir should not be confused with Clear Lake, a natural lake located in Lake County, California.

Modoc National Forest commands 1,654,392 acres of northeastern California real estate, housing within its boundaries the Warner Mountains, from the Cascade Range, and a forest bed that was covered by lava millions of years ago. In the lower elevations, visitors to the forest will find bitterbrush and curl-leaf mahogany, which slowly give way to a sprinkling of aspen, incense cedar, ponderosa pine, red fir, and white fir in higher elevations. At the forest's highest elevations, you'll find lodgepole and western white pines, as well as some startlingly beautiful vistas from your vantage point on top of the forest's summit.

Wind your way along nature trails that were once traveled by covered wagons and their brave passengers, their wheel ruts still carved into the canyon rock. Take a hike along a section of the famous Oregon Trail, experiencing the forest in almost the same state as those settlers many years ago. Walk the paths of the Native Americans and settlers who trapped, hunted, and fished for their living. Catch a glimpse of early 20th century life in Tom Smith's Cabin, now listed on the National Register of historic places. As you hike through the Modoc National Forest, you'll not only have a front row seat to the area's diverse wildlife, but you'll take a trip back in time.

The 46,460-acre Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge nuzzles the banks of the reservoir, covered in bunchgrass, low sagebrush, and juniper. The lake's small, rocky islands are flecked with nests for colonial nesting birds, including the double-crested cormorant and American white pelican. In fact, the refuge is one of the only two remaining nesting grounds in California for white pelicans, producing over 1,400 baby pelicans every year.

Clear Lake Wildlife Refuge is devoted to maintaining and protecting a natural habitat for sensitive, threatened, and endangered species, a goal they continue to meet each year. Pronghorn antelope, sage grouse, bald eagles, herons, mule dear, and many other animals make this safe area their home. Because of their special needs and fragile habitat, the refuge is closed to public access between spring and fall, in order to protect their safety. Clear Lake Reservoir is part of the Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, so recreational activities are limited to wildlife viewing and waterfowl and antelope hunting during the California State seasons.

Clear Lake Reservoir is truly a place of natural beauty and tranquility, naming indigenous flora and fauna as its number one priority. Hike green mountains and watch the sun streaming through the trees, showing you the path to the past. Or, plan a trip during a white winter wonderland, observing rare animals in a diverse and beautiful refuge. Whatever your preference, nature will be right at your fingertips.