Mammoth Pool Reservoir, reservoir in California, USA
Mammoth Pool Reservoir is a man-made lake in the Sierra National Forest, California, held back by an earth-fill dam on the San Joaquin River. It sits deep in a mountain canyon, with steep, forested slopes rising sharply from the water on all sides.
Mammoth Pool Dam was completed in 1960 as part of the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project, operated by Southern California Edison. The Big Creek system had been generating power in the Sierra Nevada since the early 1900s, and this dam was a later addition to that network.
The reservoir draws people who come to fish, boat, or camp along its shores, usually in small groups and without much noise. Visitors tend to carry out everything they bring in, since there are no waste facilities nearby.
The roads leading to the reservoir pass through mountain terrain and can be blocked by snow in winter, so a summer or early fall visit is the most reliable option. Cell service is very limited in the area, so it is worth checking road conditions before leaving and letting someone know your plans.
During the Creek Fire in September 2020, some campers had to wade into the water to escape the flames while helicopters carried out evacuations. The fire burned large parts of the surrounding slopes, and the effects on the hillsides around the lake are still visible today.
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