| Loon Lake | |
|---|---|
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&sq=el_dorado_county_jobs&lang=en&file=File:Relief_map_of_California.png)  Loon Lake &sq=el_dorado_county_jobs&lang=en&file=File:Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png) Loon Lake | |
| Location | Eldorado National Forest El Dorado County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°59′17″N 120°19′52″W / 38.988°N 120.331°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Buck-Loon Tunnel |
| Primary outflows | Gerle Creek |
| Catchment area | 5,200 acres (2,100 ha) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) |
| Surface area | 1,100 acres (450 ha) |
| Water volume | 76,200 acre⋅ft (94,000 dam3) |
| Surface elevation | 6,410 ft (1,950 m) |
| References | U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Loon Lake |
Loon Lake is a reservoir in the Eldorado National Forest of El Dorado County, California, United States. The 76,200 acre⋅ft (94,000,000 m3) lake is formed by Loon Lake Dam, completed in 1963 as part of the Upper American River Project by Sacramento Municipal Utility District to conserve spring snow melt runoff for use during the summer and autumn for hydroelectric power production. Loon Lake Dam impounds water at the headwaters of Gerle Creek which, prior to the dam, flowed intermittently through (natural) Loon and Pleasant Lakes. But most of the water now stored in Loon Lake arrives from Buck Island Reservoir in the adjacent Rubicon River watershed by way of the Buck-Loon Tunnel. Nearby is Loon Lake Chalet, a popular winter recreation destination. In summer, a boat ramp for water sports and camping are available, but the area is less popular than nearby Union Valley Reservoir and Rubicon Trail.
It is also known as Loon Lake Reservoir.[1] Boaters refer to the northeast portion of the reservoir as the Pleasant Lake Arm, the portion over the inundated Pleasant Lake.