Bridgeport Reservoir, California
Encyclopedia
Bridgeport Reservoir, also known as Bridgeport Lake, is a lake
at the lower end of Bridgeport Valley
in Mono County, California
. Its earth-filled dam
was constructed in 1923 by the Walker River Irrigation District, along the East Walker River
. The lake has a storage capacity of 42455 acre.ft, and is regulated by a Federal Watermaster supplying primarily agricultural
irrigation
and flood control
for Lyon County, Nevada
.
The community of Bridgeport
which is the county seat of Mono
, and the Bryant Field
airstrip, are located along the river and adjacent to the upper end of the lake.
Recreational opportunities include boating
and trout fishing
, and resorts with boat launch facilities are located along the lake's east shore. Access is provided by California State Route 182.
Bridgeport Lake provides the venue for an annual fireworks
display, part of the traditional Bridgeport Fourth of July
celebration which began in 1863.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
at the lower end of Bridgeport Valley
Bridgeport Valley
The Bridgeport Valley is a large, fertile mountain basin between the eastern Sierra Nevada and the Bodie Hills of the U.S. state of California. The valley is long and wide, and is used primarily for ranching. The East Walker River is the main stream flowing through the Bridgeport Valley;...
in Mono County, California
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
. Its earth-filled dam
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
was constructed in 1923 by the Walker River Irrigation District, along the East Walker River
East Walker River
The East Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin....
. The lake has a storage capacity of 42455 acre.ft, and is regulated by a Federal Watermaster supplying primarily agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
and flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
for Lyon County, Nevada
Lyon County, Nevada
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
.
The community of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, California
Bridgeport is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Mono County, California. It lies at an elevation of 6463 feet in the middle of the Bridgeport Valley. Bridgeport is located at the intersection of highways US 395 and State Route 182. The population was 575 at the 2010...
which is the county seat of Mono
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
, and the Bryant Field
Bryant Field (airport)
Bryant Field is a public airport located in Bridgeport, California, USA.The airport covers and has one runway. It is operated by Mono County....
airstrip, are located along the river and adjacent to the upper end of the lake.
Recreational opportunities include boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and trout fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and resorts with boat launch facilities are located along the lake's east shore. Access is provided by California State Route 182.
Bridgeport Lake provides the venue for an annual fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display, part of the traditional Bridgeport Fourth of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebration which began in 1863.