# Orange County Lake Drained for Five Years

> Orange County’s largest lake will be empty for five years to upgrade aging infrastructure and prepare for climate storms.
- Title: Orange County Lake Drained for Five Years · Sfgate | Shortify
- Summary: Orange County’s largest lake will be empty for five years to upgrade aging infrastructure and prepare for climate storms. Irvine Lake will be drained for…
- Keywords: irvine lake, santiago creek dam, orange county, water district, construction project, climate storms, el niño, white sturgeon, news, local, Orange, County
- Source: Sfgate — https://sfgate.com/bayarea/article/orange-county-lake-empty-22480739.php
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: irvine lake, santiago creek dam, orange county, water district, construction project, climate storms, el niño, white sturgeon, news, local
## Irvine Lake’s Purpose
Irvine Lake is Orange County’s largest freshwater reservoir, used for water storage and shoreline fishing.
## Lake Drained for Five Years
Irvine Lake will be drained this month for a five-year construction project to upgrade aging infrastructure.
## Water Levels Reduced
The lake’s water level will drop from 735 feet to 720 feet, leaving 300 acre-feet of water.
## Historical Context
Irvine Lake was created in 1933 by Santiago Creek Dam, now facing aging infrastructure issues.
## Safety Concerns
Santiago Creek Dam has an ‘Extremely High’ downstream hazard level due to aging infrastructure.
## El Niño Preparation
The water district will reduce lake levels ahead of El Niño to handle potential major storms.
## Fish Relocation Debate
Fish advocates warn draining the lake without a salvage plan will kill white sturgeon under catch-and-release rules.

> Draining Irvine Lake without a fish‑salvage plan will result in the foreseeable and complete mortality of white sturgeon present in the reservoir. This constitutes an unlawful take.
## Project Completion
The lake will be completely drained this summer to start construction, with water returning in five years.
## Key takeaway

Irvine Lake will be drained for five years to improve safety and handle future storms, leaving no fish.