Ruth Reservoir (also known as Ruth Lake) is the only reservoir on California's Mad River. The reservoir and adjacent community were named for early settler Ruth McKnight. The reservoir was formed by construction of R. W. Matthews Dam in 1962 primarily for domestic and industrial water supply to Arcata, Eureka, and other communities around Humboldt Bay. The reservoir was not designed for flood control storage, but nonetheless limited December 1964 flooding to 51 percent of 1955 flow through the community of Mad River (on California State Route 36) and 90 percent of the 1955 flood flow at Arcata.[2] A 2-MW hydro-electric plant with two 1-MW turbine generators is powered by water released from the reservoir. The plant generates 5 GWh during an average water year.[3] Dry-weather releases flow down the Mad River from the reservoir to be recovered by Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District's Ranney collectors near Essex, California.[4]
| Ruth Reservoir | |
|---|---|
  Ruth Reservoir  Ruth Reservoir | |
| Location | Trinity County, California |
| Coordinates | 40°22′08″N 123°26′00″W / 40.36889°N 123.43333°W[1] |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Mad River (California) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 42,000 acre-feet (52×106 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 2,657 ft (810 m) |
| References | [2] |
Recreation
editThe summer resort community of Ruth developed to expand recreational use of the reservoir. There are 174 cabin lease sites surrounding the reservoir.[5] Registration and inspection is required for all watercraft prior to launching on Ruth Lake. Trailered and motorized boats may be launched only at the marina or at the Ruth Recreational Campground.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ruth Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved Jan 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Waananen, A.O., Harris, D.D. and Williams, R.C. (1971). Floods of December 1964 and January 1965 in the Far Western States. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. p. 172.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Hydro-Electric Plant". Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. Archived from the original on 2010-09-04. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ "Diversion and Pumping Works". Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. Archived from the original on 2010-09-04. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ "Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District Issues Temporary Boating Restrictions to Protect Water Supply" (PDF). Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ "Invasive Species Alert". Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. Retrieved 2010-08-23.