Mystic Lake (California)

Mystic Lake is a seasonal lake in the San Jacinto Valley of western Riverside County, California. The lake's size can vary widely each year. At times the lake will persist from one year to the next, and at other times it will completely dissipate during the dry season. The Mystic Lake area attracts one of the most diverse populations of birds in the United States, with over 200 species identified.[1]

Mystic Lake
LocationRiverside County, California
Coordinates33°52′45″N 117°05′01″W
TypeSeasonal
Primary inflowsSan Jacinto River
Primary outflowsSan Jacinto River
Basin countriesUnited States

The lake is located east of the Lake Perris reservoir and the town of Lakeview, between the cities of Moreno Valley, to the north, and San Jacinto, to the south.[2] The town of Lakeview received its name for its proximity to Mystic Lake.[1]

Shrinking
Mystic Lake receding during dry times.

The lake lies within the outlet area of the San Jacinto River and is typically full only during late winter and spring when the river is flowing. In recent years, the lake has decreased from thousands of acres to under 200 acres (0.81 km2). If dry conditions persist, experts speculate that the it will dry up altogether, becoming an ephemeral lake. [3] This is a part of a cycle of flooding and receding that the lake has gone through over hundreds and thousands of years. But it is very full of water and wildlife to date as of, April 2019.

Because the San Jacinto basin is actively and rapidly subsiding (on a geologic time-scale), the USGS estimates that the potential size of the lake (the rapidly expanding closed depression) will continue to grow.[4]

Juan Bautista de Anza Anza Trail

The Anza Trail passes by the lake, which was described by Juan Bautista de Anza in 1774 as "several leagues in circumference and as full of white geese as water." Anza named it Laguna de Bucareli, after Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, the viceroy of New Spain. Much later, it became known as Mystic Lake.[5]

San Jacinto Wildlife Area

The lake is adjacent to the 9,000–acre San Jacinto Wildlife Area,[6] which is owned and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and open to the public. It features restored wetlands and wildlife habitat. Mystic Lake is a high priority acquisition area for the Department to add to the Wildlife Area.[7] It is a popular destination for bird-watchers and hunters.

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See also

References
  1. Matthews, Jim (July 31, 1991). "Mystic Lake Area a Growing Concern" (Vol. 188, No. 212.). San Bernardino, CA: The Sun Company of San Bernardino, California. The San Bernardino County Sun. p. C5.
  2. Lakeview Quadrangle California, Map. United States Geological Survey, 1953, USGS Topographic Map, 7.5-Minute Series (Topographic), scale 1:24,000.
  3. "Mystic Lake likely to vanish amid dry spell". The Press Enterprise. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  4. "Geologic Map of the San Bernardino and Santa Ana 30' x 60' quadrangles, California". pubs.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  5. "Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail: Riverside County, California--Historic and Interpretive Sites". National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  6. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region6/sanjacinto/index.html
  7. "San Jacinto Wildlife Area". California Department of Fish and Game. Archived from the original on 2007-01-23. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
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