{{short description|Human-made lake located in Maragüez, Ponce, Puerto Rico}} {{use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lago Cerrillos | image = Lago Cerrillos.JPG | caption = Lake Cerrillos viewed facing south, with the Lake Cerrillos Dam in the distance | image_bathymetry = | pushpin_map = Puerto Rico | pushpin_map_alt = Topographic map of Puerto Rico | caption_bathymetry = | location = Barrio Maragüez, Ponce | coords = {{coord|18|05|20|N|66|34|45|W|type:waterbody_region:PR|display=inline,title}} | type = artificial reservoir | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Puerto Rico | length = | width = | area = | depth = | max-depth = | volume = {{convert|47,900|acre.ft|m3}}<ref>{{cite web| url=https://pr.water.usgs.gov/public/rt/pr_lakes/lake_50113950.html| title=USGS Lago Cerrillos|publisher=USGS|accessdate=2010-05-19}}</ref> | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = | islands = | cities = Ponce }}
'''Lake Cerrillos''' (Spanish: Lago Cerrillos) is a human-made lake located in barrio Maragüez, Ponce, Puerto Rico.<ref>[http://www.letsgotoponce.com/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&Itemid=0&catid=1&limit=8&limitstart=8 ''Let'sGoToPonce: Insider's Guide to Southern Puerto Rico.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713202635/http://www.letsgotoponce.com/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&Itemid=0&catid=1&limit=8&limitstart=8 |date=13 July 2011 }} Lake Cerrillos. Retrieved 23 November 2009.</ref> The lake was finished in 1992 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://pr.water.usgs.gov/public/rt/pr_lakes/lake_50113950.html| title=USGS Lago Cerrillos|publisher=USGS|accessdate=2010-05-19}}</ref> The main purposes of the reservoir are flood control, water supply, and recreation. There is a variety of fish available for fishing such as largemouth bass, bluegills, catfish and tilapias.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lobinapr.com/lobina/lagos/lagos_photos/cerrillo/cerrillo.htm| title=Lago Cerrillos| publisher=lobinapr| accessdate=2010-05-19| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030042120/http://www.lobinapr.com/lobina/lagos/lagos_photos/cerrillo/cerrillo.htm| archivedate=2010-10-30}}</ref> The 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games that were held in Ponce staged the canoeing competitions in this lake.<ref name=TP>[http://www.travelponce.com/Lake-Cerrillos-Dam.html Lake Cerrillos Dam. Travel-Ponce.]</ref> It was used in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games for the sports of Canoeing, Rowing.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mayaguez2010.com/es/instalaciones/deportivas/294-lago-cerrillos.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326134217/http://www.mayaguez2010.com/es/instalaciones/deportivas/294-lago-cerrillos.html| url-status=usurped| archive-date=26 March 2010| title=Lago Cerrillos|publisher=Mayagüez 2010|accessdate=2010-05-19}}</ref> The lake is the main drinking water source for the city of Ponce.<ref>[http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/lagocerrilloscasiasecas-1025915/ ''Lago Cerrillos casi a secas.''] Darisabel Texidor Guadalupe. Primera Hora. 1 August 2014.. Retrieved 1 August 2014.</ref>
==Dam== [[File:Represa Cerrillos.JPG|thumb|240px|left|Lake Cerrillos Dam, as viewed from the Luis A. Wito Morales Park]] The Lake Cerrillos Dam is located about four miles (6 km) northeast of Ponce. Construction of the dam started in 1984. After its completion in 1992, it still took a few more years for the initial filling of the reservoir.<ref name=TP /> Lake Cerrillos Dam has a total capacity of 59 million cubic meters. In lieu of flood gates, it provides more than 80,000 cubic meters of water daily to the local population through a 434-meter long by 6 meter-wide tunnel at the dam base.<ref name=TP />
The dam is {{convert|323|ft|m}} high by {{convert|1555|ft|m}} wide (over 1/4 mile wide).<ref>[http://www.visitponce.com/recursos.aspx ''Recursos Naturales: Represa Cerrillos.''] Website of the Government of the Municipality of Ponce. VisitPonce.com (Home page > Descubrelo > Recursos Naturales) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100620021655/http://visitponce.com/recursos.aspx Archived] at the WayBack Machine on 20 June 2010. Accessed 24 July 2019.</ref> The Dam is located {{convert|9.5|mi|km}} from the coast of Ponce, at {{convert|323|ft|m}} above sea level. It provides a volume of {{convert|47900|acre.ft}} for flood control, as well as an estimated {{convert|22000000|USgal/d|m3/d}} of drinking water.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/oficina-de-prensa-y-comunicaciones/comunicados-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-2009/comunicados-enero-2010/drna-inaugura-facilidades-para-competencias-de-los-xxi-juegos-centroamericanos-y-del-caribe |title=Government of Puerto Rico. Departmento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales. Press Release. ''DRNA inaugura facilidades para competencias de los XXI Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe''. January 2010. |access-date=29 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725064732/http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/oficina-de-prensa-y-comunicaciones/comunicados-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-2009/comunicados-enero-2010/drna-inaugura-facilidades-para-competencias-de-los-xxi-juegos-centroamericanos-y-del-caribe |archive-date=25 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ideal height of the reservoir for purposes of its drinking water supply is 173.40 meters.<ref>[http://www.periodicolaperla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6316:aunque-con-mejoria-en-lagos-persiste-llamado-de-prudencia-para-conservar-toa-vaca-y-cerrillos&catid=81:locales&Itemid=198 ''Persiste llamado para conservar agua.''] Reinaldo Millán y Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.</ref> Details of the environmental variables in the Cerrillos Reservoir can be found in<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pantoja-Agreda, Fernando and Otero, Ernesto |first= |date=2017 |title=Autotropic Picoplankton assemblages in subtropical drinking water reservoir: temporal and vertical dynamics in abundance and biomass |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309166287_Autotrophic_picoplankton_assemblages_in_subtropical_reservoir_temporal_and_vertical_dynamics_in_abundance_and_biomass |journal=Journal of Freshwater Ecology |volume=32 |pages=16-27}}</ref> {{clear}}
== Recreational facilities == thumb|240px|right|Cerrillos Park, located north of the lake, showing the ''Atracadero'' area {{Main|Parque Luis A. Wito Morales}} Two recreational areas were built as part of the dam development. The area north of the lake is the Cerrillos State Forest and includes Cerrillos Park, an active park with two ramps that may be used to launch boats, kayaks, canoes etc. There are also a few nature trails. Open-air kiosks with barbecue facilities intended for picnicking and socializing are also part of the park.<ref name=TP /> There are five recreational areas at Cerrillos Park: Campo de Recreo, El Atracadero, Bella Mirada, El Mirador, and Alto Balcón. This area was designated as the Cerrillos State Forest under an Executive Order and it consists of more than 200 ''cuerdas'' (about 195 acres) of land.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/oficina-de-prensa-y-comunicaciones/comunicados-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-2009/comunicados-enero-2010/drna-inaugura-facilidades-para-competencias-de-los-xxi-juegos-centroamericanos-y-del-caribe |title=Government of Puerto Rico. Departmento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales. Press Release. ''DRNA inaugura facilidades para competencias de los XXI Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe''. January 2010. |access-date=29 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725064732/http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/oficina-de-prensa-y-comunicaciones/comunicados-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-2009/comunicados-enero-2010/drna-inaugura-facilidades-para-competencias-de-los-xxi-juegos-centroamericanos-y-del-caribe |archive-date=25 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Various Games and competitions have taken place in this north area.
The second park is located south of the lake. This area south of the lake is the passive park Parque Luis A. Wito Morales and is frequently used by families and friends for social and recreational gatherings.
==2010 Central American and Caribbean Games== [[File:Cerrillos lake and dam.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Aerial view from Cerrillos Lake and its dam, looking SSE]] In 2010 Lake Cerrillos facilities were further improved to accommodate the rowing, canoeing and kayak a games of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games hosted in the city of Mayaguez. The improvements were made at a cost of $350,000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/oficina-de-prensa-y-comunicaciones/comunicados-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-2009/comunicados-enero-2010/drna-inaugura-facilidades-para-competencias-de-los-xxi-juegos-centroamericanos-y-del-caribe |title=Government of Puerto Rico. Departmento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales. Press Release. ''DRNA inaugura facilidades para competencias de los XXI Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe''. January 2010. |access-date=29 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725064732/http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/oficina-de-prensa-y-comunicaciones/comunicados-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-2009/comunicados-enero-2010/drna-inaugura-facilidades-para-competencias-de-los-xxi-juegos-centroamericanos-y-del-caribe |archive-date=25 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The lake was also used for the 2013 Pan American Canoe Sprint Championships during 16 – 20 October 2013.<ref>[http://copaconline.com/ ''Home: Pan American Canoe Sprint Championships Updates.''] Pan American Canoe Federation. COPAC. Retrieved 16 October 2013.</ref> It had also been used for that event in 1999.<ref>[http://www.periodicolaperla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5526:ponce-anfitrion-de-otro-evento-internacional&catid=92:portada-deportes&Itemid=318 ''Llega a Ponce otro evento internacional.''] Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1559. 16 October 2013. Page 59. Retrieved 16 October 2013.</ref> {{clear}}
==See also== {{portal|Puerto Rico}} * Río Bucaná * Río Cerrillos
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Ponce, Puerto Rico}} {{2010 Central American and Caribbean Games venues|state=collapsed}}
Cerrilos Category:Geography of Ponce, Puerto Rico Category:2010 Central American and Caribbean Games venues Category:Tourist attractions in Ponce, Puerto Rico Category:1992 establishments in Puerto Rico Category:Barrio Maragüez