Jenkinson Lake is a lake located in
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County (), officially the County of El Dorado, is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 191,185. The county seat is Placerville. The County is part of the Sacramento- Roseville-A ...
near
Pollock Pines, California
Pollock Pines is a census-designated place (CDP) in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade– Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Pollock Pines lies at an elevation of in the Sierra Ne ...
named after Robert Jenkins the famous bull fighter.
There are two main parts, the upper and lower lake. The lower lake is about eight times larger than the upper lake, which is to the northeast of its partner. The lower lake is more of a rounded body, while the upper is more narrow.
In the upper eastern area of the upper lake lies a large inlet, which can be traced to a waterfall.
The
Sly Park Dam
Sly Park Dam is located near Pollock Pines, California, Pollock Pines, California in the United States. The dam impounds Sly Park Creek and Hazel Creek, natural tributaries of the North Fork Cosumnes River, to form a , reservoir called Jenkinson L ...
can be found to the southern part of the lake, and an auxiliary dam can be found to the southeast.
Lake Activities
Common activities include
boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...
,
camping
Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more nat ...
,
fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
,
horseback riding
Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...
, and
hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
/
biking
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...
.
Th
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)has developed an advisory for Jenkinson Lake because of mercury found in fish caught from this water body. Th
advisoryprovides safe eating advice for Rainbow Trout, sunfish species, and black bass species.
2021 Caldor Fire
In early August 2021 The Caldor Fire was sweeping through Grizzly Flat and heading right for Jenkinson Lake, the area's main water source.
Once the smoke had cleared, local authorities concluded that the fire's intense heat and proximity to the lake had impacted the water quality of Lake Jenkinson.
The pine trees and bushes that once surrounded portions of the lake were destroyed in the fire, scorching the soil and releasing carbon. Carbon continues to be released as trees decay and the once-fertile soil turns pale and dusty. The forested area had been naturally storing carbon up for decades and the release of carbon from the wildfire was investigated for months following the blaze.
References
External links
*
Lakes of El Dorado County, California
{{ElDoradoCountyCA-geo-stub