Lake Murray is a

reservoir A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, operated by the City of San Diego's Public Utilities Department. It is located within

Mission Trails Regional Park Mission Trails Regional Park is a open space preserve within the city of San Diego, California, established in 1974. It is the sixth-largest municipally owned park in the United States, and the largest in California. Description The park cons ...

. When full, the reservoir covers , has a maximum water depth of , and a shoreline of . The asphalt-paved service road lining roughly two-thirds of the lake's perimeter is a popular recreation site for the Navajo community. It lies south of Cowles Mountain and is an important reporting point for aircraft inbound to land at

Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport , formerly known as Montgomery Field and Gibbs Field, is a public airport in San Diego, California, United States, six miles (10 km) north of downtown San Diego. The airport covers and has three runways, ...

(identifier: KMYF).

History

The reservoir was formed in 1894 with the construction of an earthen dam, and was known as La Mesa Reservoir. In 1910 the dam and reservoir were bought by

Ed Fletcher "Colonel" Ed Fletcher (December 31, 1872 – October 15, 1955) was a real estate developer and U.S. Republican and Democratic politician from San Diego, California. Fletcher was born 1872 in Littleton, Massachusetts, son of Charles Kimbal ...

as part of his Cuyamaca Water Company. Following the great San Diego County flooding in 1916 (associated with the rainmaker

Charles Hatfield Charles Mallory Hatfield (July 15, 1875January 12, 1958) was an American " rainmaker". Early life Hatfield was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on July 15, 1875. His family moved to Southern California in the 1880s. As an adult, he became a salesman ...

), the reservoir was the principal source of water for the city of San Diego. In 1919, the dam was enlarged and the capacity of the reservoir greatly expanded.Fetzer, Leland
San Diego County Place Names, A to Z
Sunbelt Publications. 2005. p.99. The dam and lake were renamed in 1924 after James A. Murray, one of Fletcher's investors in the water company. Fletcher sold the Cuyamaca Water Company, including Lake Murray, to the La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Spring Valley Irrigation District in 1926. The city of San Diego took over operation of the reservoir in 1950, and purchased the reservoir in 1960.

Ecology

At least 149 species of birds have been observed and recorded at Lake Murray. Among other species, the lake supports flocks of the endangered

tricolored blackbird The tricolored blackbird (''Agelaius tricolor'') is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae. Its range is limited to the coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast of North America, from Northern California in the U.S. (with occasional st ...

. The reservoir also has Florida-strain largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, and trout (stocked November–May). The area also contains many

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

or naturalized plant species which include: ''

Baccharis sarothroides ''Baccharis sarothroides'' is a North American species of flowering shrub known by the common names broom baccharis, desertbroom, greasewood, rosin-bush and groundsel in English and "escoba amarga" or "romerillo" in Spanish. This is a spreading ...

'', '' encelia californica'', ''

eriogonum fasciculatum ''Eriogonum fasciculatum'' is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names California buckwheat and flat-topped buckwheat. Characterized by small, white and pink flower clusters that give off a cottony effect, this species grows vari ...

'', ''

agave attenuata ''Agave attenuata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, commonly known as the foxtail or lion's tail. The name swan's neck agave refers to its development of a curved inflorescence, unusual among agaves. Native to the plat ...

'' (Foxtail agave), ''

opuntia littoralis ''Opuntia littoralis'' is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal pricklypear. It is sometimes called the sprawling prickly pear due to its short stems and habit of growing close to the ground. ''"Littoral"'' means "per ...

'' (Coastal prickly pear), '' ferocactus viridescens'' (San Diego barrel cactus), ''

pseudognaphalium californicum ''Pseudognaphalium californicum'' ( syn. ''Gnaphalium californicum'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by several common names, including ladies' tobacco, California rabbit tobacco, California cudweed, and California ...

'', '' datura wrightii'' (Sacred datura), ''

artemisia californica ''Artemisia californica'', also known as California sagebrush, is a species of western North American shrub in the sunflower family. Description ''Artemisia californica'' branches from the base and grows out from there, becoming rounded; it gr ...

'', ''

malosma laurina ''Malosma'' is a plant genus which contains only a single species, ''Malosma laurina'', with the common names laurel sumac and lentisco (Spanish).Integrated Taxonomic Information System (2007)''Malosma'' retrieved June 10, 2007. ''Malosma laurin ...

'', ''

ambrosia deltoidea ''Ambrosia deltoidea'' is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names triangle bur ragweed, triangle bursage, and triangleleaf bursage. Distribution The plant is native to the Sonoran Desert re ...

'', ''

corymbia citriodora ''Corymbia citriodora'', commonly known as lemon-scented gum and other common names, is a species of tall tree that is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It has smooth white to pink bark, narrow lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds ...

'', ''

schinus molle ''Schinus molle'' (Peruvian pepper, also known as American pepper, Peruvian peppertree, escobilla, false pepper, rosé pepper, molle del Peru, pepper tree, (Archived bWebCite peppercorn tree, California pepper tree, pirul (in Mexican Spanish si ...

'' (Peruvian peppertree), '' hesperoyucca whipplei'', ''

tamarix ramosissima ''Tamarix ramosissima'', commonly known as saltcedar salt cedar, or tamarisk, is a deciduous arching shrub with reddish stems, feathery, pale green foliage, and characteristic small pink flowers. The cultivar 'Pink Cascade' (dark pink flowered) ...

'', '' centaurea melitensis'', '' calystegia macrostegia'', ''

adenostoma fasciculatum ''Adenostoma fasciculatum'', commonly known as chamise or greasewood, is a flowering plant native to California and Baja California. This shrub is one of the most widespread plants of the California chaparral ecoregion. Chamise produces a specia ...

'', ''

euphorbia peplus ''Euphorbia peplus'' (petty spurge, radium weed, cancer weed, or milkweed), is a species of ''Euphorbia'', native to most of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia, where it typically grows in cultivated arable land, gardens and other disturbe ...

'', ''

ricinus communis ''Ricinus communis'', the castor bean or castor oil plant, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus, ''Ricinus'', and subtribe, Ricininae. The evolution of cas ...

, '' hirschfeldia incana'', '' crocanthemum scoparium'', '' rumex crispus, ''

carduus pycnocephalus ''Carduus pycnocephalus'', with common names including Italian thistle, Italian plumeless thistle, and Plymouth thistle, is a species of thistle. It is native to: the Mediterranean region in southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia; East E ...

'', ''

carpobrotus edulis ''Carpobrotus edulis'' is a ground-creeping plant with succulent leaves in the genus ''Carpobrotus'', native to South Africa. Its common names include hottentot-fig, sour fig, ice plant or highway ice plant. Description ''Carpobrotus edulis'' ...

'', ''

schoenoplectus californicus ''Schoeneoplectus californicus'' is a species of sedge known by the common names California bulrush, southern bulrush and giant bulrush. It is also sometimes called "tule", but the closely related ''Schoenoplectus acutus'' is the species most oft ...

'' (California bulrush), ''

myoporum laetum ''Myoporum laetum'', commonly known as ngaio or mousehole tree is a plant in the family Scrophulariaceae endemic to New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands. It is a fast growing shrub, readily distinguished from others in the genus by the tra ...

'', ''

salix nigra ''Salix nigra'', the black willow, is a species of willow native to eastern North America, from New Brunswick and southern Ontario west to Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and Texas. Description ''Salix nigra'' is a medium-sized decid ...

'', ''

foeniculum vulgare Fennel (''Foeniculum vulgare'') is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a hardy, perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean but has become widely naturalize ...

'', '' callistemon citrinus'' and ''

schinus terebinthifolia ''Schinus terebinthifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to subtropical and tropical South America. Common names include Brazilian peppertree, aroeira, rose pepper, broadleaved pepper tree, ...

'' among others.

Recreational usage

Lake Murray is a popular site for hikers, cyclists, and runners who travel around the periphery of the lake. It is not possible to cross the dam and complete the loop like nearby

Miramar Reservoir Miramar Reservoir is a reservoir located in the Scripps Miramar Ranch community of San Diego, California. Owned, operated and maintained by the City of San Diego, the reservoir and its 165-foot tall earthen embankment dam were completed in 1960 a ...

but there is of path with access at multiple points. Kayaking and catch-and-release fishing are both allowed on the reservoir. Birdwatchers enjoy visiting Lake Murray where ducks, geese, and herons abound. At least 149 bird species have been observed and recorded here. Lake Murray is open for shore fishing and private boats, kayaks, and float tubes seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to about sunset but changes throughout the year. On days or times when the concession is closed, patrons can purchase permits from the iron ranger boxes (envelope system) at the lake. The reservoir is stocked with Florida-strain largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, and trout. Minimum size limit for bass is . Fish limits are five trout, five bass, five catfish, and twenty-five crappie and bluegill in aggregate, with no limit on other species. Anglers 16 years of age or older must have a California state fishing license. Fish catch information is weekly.

References

External links

City of San Diego - Reservoirs - Murray Reservoir
{{authority control

Murray Murray may refer to: Businesses * Murray (bicycle company), an American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles * Murrays, an Australian bus company * Murray International Trust, a Scottish investment trust * D. & W. Murray Limited, an Australian who ...

Geography of San Diego San Diego River

1894 establishments in California

History

Ecology

Recreational usage

See also

References

External links