Terminus Dam Lake Kaweah

Lake Kaweah was formed by the construction of Terminus Dam on the Kaweah River in 1962 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood damage reduction and water conservation. While the lake provides a multitude of activities for visitors, the water retained in the reservoir is 100 percent agricultural water for California’s south central valley – well known for its agricultural production.

Terminus Dam was originally constructed as an earthen dam and was later expanded on utilizing 21-foot-tall fusegates, the largest in the country. The addition of the fusegates allows for an additional 43,000 acre feet of water storage as well as providing additional flood control. The fusegates are visible from the Lemon Hill Recreation Area, and dam tours can be scheduled by contacting the project office headquarters. During the spring run-off season Lake Kaweah can store a total of 185,630 acre feet of water. Energy production was added in 1990 with the construction of the Terminus Power Plant. The hydroelectric plant produces an average of 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is equivalent to 67,000 barrels of oil.

The lake is located only a few miles outside of the Sequoia National Park gates on highway 198 making it a popular day use location for travelers who are looking to stretch their legs, have a picnic, or find out more about the area. The Visitor Center at the Lemon Hill Recreation Area is a great place to gather information on both the lake and the national park, and you will also find the Sequoia Parks Conservancy gift shop inside. Also located in the Visitor Center is the Tulare County Boat Patrol office for any state or county regulation questions.

Lake Kaweah has many attractions, such as their campfire programs that take place during the summer season for the campers of Horse Creek Campground. The large surface-area of the reservoir makes it popular for boating activities, and the river feeding the reservoir in the Slick Rock Recreation area is perfect for wildlife viewing in the Spring and Fall seasons.

Location: Your Ranger will meet you at the top parking lot in the Lemon Hill Recreation Area near the Lake Kaweah Heritage Visitor Center. There is a picnic area in the parking lot if some families wanted to have lunch overlooking the lake before the tour. Please remind your group to bring water and to dress in layers as the tour will be outside for its entirety.