Lake Size: 100,000 acre ft
Shoreline Length (Miles): 31 miles
Deepest Depth: 200 feet
Latitude: 34.5247
Longitude: -118.5876
Lake Level Above Sea Level: 1,500 feet
Counties: Los Angeles County
Cities: Castaic
Lake Management: US Army Corps of Engineers

Information: Castaic Lake is an artificial lake on Castaic Creek formed by Castaic Dam, in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, near the town of Castaic. The 100,000 acre·ft (120,000 dam³) lake with a surface elevation of approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) above sea level is the terminus of the West Branch of the California Aqueduct, though some comes from the 154 square miles (400 km2) watershed above the dam. The aqueduct water comes from Pyramid Lake through a pipeline and is used to power Castaic Power Plant, on the northern end of the lake. In addition, the lake is the lower reservoir in a pumped-storage hydroelectric system. Water is pumped back up to Pyramid Lake at night, when electricity demand and cost is low. During the day, when prices and demand are high, the water is let back down. Water from the lake is distributed throughout the northern portion of the Greater Los Angeles Area. Some water is released into Castaic Lagoon below the dam, which drains into Castaic Creek. The creek flows south until it meets the Santa Clara River, a few miles west of Santa Clarita. Castaic Lake, May 2008Castaic Lake is a de facto replacement reservoir for the St. Francis Dam, which was located in San Francisquito Canyon, the next canyon to the east. The St. Francis Dam collapsed in 1928, and the resulting flood killed over 400 people in the Santa Clara River Valley. Castaic Lake was also one of the main locations of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. Many of the action scenes were recorded here.