View source for Lake Isabella

{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2010}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Isabella
| image = Wfm lake isabella landsat.jpg
| caption = Satellite image of Lake Isabella<br>(between 1999-2006)
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[Kern County, California]], [[United States]]
| coords = {{Coord|35|40|17.69|N|118|25|38.05|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| lake_type = [[reservoir]]
| inflow = Upper [[Kern River]], [[South Fork Kern River]]
| outflow = Lower [[Kern River]]
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United States
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|11000|acre|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume = {{convert|568000|acre.ft|dam3}}
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|2500|ft|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities =
| frozen =
<!--      Map      -->
| pushpin_map             = California#USA 
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = Location of Lake Isabella in California, USA.
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
<!--   Below       -->  
| website            = 
| reference          = 
}}

'''Lake Isabella''' also called '''Isabella Lake''',<ref>{{GNIS|271737|Isabella Lake}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Durham |first= David L. |title= Durham's Place Names of Central California: Includes Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings & Kern Counties |publisher= Quill Driver Books |year= 2000 |isbn= 978-1-884995-33-0 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_f3oxY4_GSUC |page= 132}}</ref> is a [[reservoir]] in [[Kern County, California]], [[United States]] created by the earthen [[Isabella Dam]]. At {{convert|11000|acres|abbr=on}}, it is one of the larger reservoirs in California. Lake Isabella is located about {{Convert|40|mile|}} northeast of [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]], and is the main water supply for that city. It was formed in 1953 when the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] dammed the [[Kern River]] at the junction of its two forks. The area is in the southern end of the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] range and the lake itself is located in low mountains at an elevation of approximately {{convert|2500|ft|abbr=on}} where summer temperatures reach over {{Convert|100|°F|}} but low enough to avoid winter snows on the surrounding ridges. The former towns of [[Isabella, California|Isabella]] and [[Kernville (former town), California|Kernville]] were flooded when the reservoir was created.

== Capacity ==
The [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] operates and has jurisdiction over the main and auxiliary dams.<ref name="TBC 2023-03-25">{{Cite news |last=Mayer |first=Steven |date=March 25, 2023 |title=Acres of debris in Isabella Lake pose challenges for local businesses, government agencies |url=https://www.bakersfield.com/news/acres-of-debris-in-isabella-lake-pose-challenges-for-local-businesses-government-agencies/article_16f2b068-ca9c-11ed-8055-337c8132d768.html |access-date=2023-03-26 |work=The Bakersfield Californian |language=en}}</ref> In 2006, [[Isabella Dam]] was found to be too unstable to hold a full amount of water and approximately 37% of a full reservoir had to be let out to restabilize the earth works.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=USACE prepares fill plan for Isabella Lake as construction wraps up |url=https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3288075/usace-prepares-fill-plan-for-isabella-lake-as-construction-wraps-up/https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3288075/usace-prepares-fill-plan-for-isabella-lake-as-construction-wraps-up/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Sacramento District |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not let the water get above 63% of capacity until an estimated 10–15 years of studies and repairs were made. The Isabella Dam bisects an [[active fault]] that could lead to a catastrophic failure if an earthquake occurs along it. This fault was considered inactive when the site was studied in the late 1940s. The project to retrofit the dam was substantially completed in 2022.<ref name=":0" />

On February 3, 2023, the Army Corps of Engineers requested a deviation from the operating pool restriction of {{convert| 361,000 |acre.ft|dam3}} of water. If approved, Lake Isabella will be allowed to fill to its full capacity of {{convert|568,000 |acre.ft|dam3}} for the first time in nearly 15 years.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mayer |first=Steven |title=Isabella Lake could be filled to capacity this spring for first time in more than 15 years |url=https://www.bakersfield.com/news/isabella-lake-could-be-filled-to-capacity-this-spring-for-first-time-in-more-than/article_92a9f654-9396-11ed-98db-732624dbb760.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |work=The Bakersfield Californian |language=en}}</ref>

==Recreation==
[[File:Aerial-LakeIsabella.jpg|thumb|left|350px| Aerial view of Lake Isabella in 2009]]

Kern County Parks maintains law enforcement and rescue responsibilities on the lake. Several recreation areas are located around the lake as a part of the [[Sequoia National Forest]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Steven |date=March 28, 2023 |title=U.S. Forest Service in Kern River Valley pledges to increase Isabella Lake access |url=https://www.bakersfield.com/news/u-s-forest-service-in-kern-river-valley-pledges-to-increase-isabella-lake-access/article_0572e13c-cdcb-11ed-9d0b-df05025de377.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Bakersfield Californian |language=en}}</ref> The [[U.S. Forest service|U.S. Forest Service]] oversees the majority of the land that touches the shore including boat ramps, campgrounds, roadways, and leases to private vendors providing services.{{r|TBC 2023-03-25}} The nearby towns of [[Lake Isabella, California|Lake Isabella]] and [[Kernville, California|Kernville]] receive economic benefit from tourism created by the Lake Isabella Recreation Area<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kern County Public Health warns residents of harmful algal blooms in Lake Isabella|url=https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/kern-county-public-health-warns-residents-of-harmful-algal-blooms-in-lake-isabella/|access-date=2020-06-07|work=KGET 17|date=6 June 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[whitewater rafting]] attraction of the Upper and Lower Kern River. Lake Isabella can be reached by car from Bakersfield via state [[California State Route 178|Highway 178]] and from [[Delano, California|Delano]] via [[California State Route 155|Highway 155]].

==See also==
*[[List of dams and reservoirs in California]]
*[[List of lakes in California]]
*[[List of largest reservoirs of California]]
*[[Erskine Fire]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons-inline}}
*[https://www.spk-wc.usace.army.mil/fcgi-bin/midnight.py?days=0&report=COE Corps of Engineers Water Releases and Lake Level Information]
*[https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sequoia/recreation Lake Isabella Recreation - Sequoia National Forest]

{{Tulare Basin Hydrography}}
{{Kern River Water Infrastructure}}
{{Sierra Nevada}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Isabella}}
[[Category:Reservoirs in Kern County, California]]
[[Category:Kern River|Lake Isabella]]
[[Category:Kern River Valley|Lake Isabella]]
[[Category:Lakes of the Sierra Nevada (United States)]]
[[Category:Sequoia National Forest|Lake Isabella]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in California]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Southern California]]