Eastman Lake

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Eastman Lake | image = | caption = | location = Madera / Mariposa counties, California, United States | coords = {{coord|37.2166|-119.9843|region:US-CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | lake_type = Reservoir | inflow = Chowchilla River | outflow = {{ubl|Chowchilla River|Terminal (evaporation)}} | catchment = | basin_countries = United States | length = | width = | area = {{Convert|1780|acres}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.water.ca.gov/damsafety/docs/Federal2010.pdf|title=Dams Owned and Operated by Federal Agencies|publisher=California Department of Water Resources|accessdate=October 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005023222/http://www.water.ca.gov/damsafety/docs/Federal2010.pdf|archivedate=October 5, 2012}}</ref> | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|138|m|ft|abbr=on}}  | pushpin_map = California#USA | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Eastman Lake in California, USA. | pushpin_map_caption =  | website = | reference = {{gnis|1664768}} }}

thumb|right | A veteran and a local volunteer showoff their catch during the "Take a Warrior Fishing" event. May 12, 2012. '''H. V. Eastman Lake''' (commonly known as '''Eastman Lake''') is an artificial lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, California. A small percentage of the northwest area of the reservoir is in Mariposa County. The lake was named in honor of Judge H. V. Eastman (1891–1972) who had served as Secretary Manager of the Chowchilla Water District.

The lake formed in {{start date and age|1975|p=y}} from the construction of '''Buchanan Dam''' across the Chowchilla River as a flood control and irrigation project of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The earthen dam, {{convert|218|ft}} high with a length of {{convert|1746|ft}} at the crest, impounding a maximum capacity of 150,000 acre-feet of Chowchilla River water in the reservoir, is owned and operated by the Corps.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://findlakes.com/h.v._eastman_lake_california~ca10243.htm |title=H.V. Eastman Lake |access-date=2012-08-03 |archive-date=2012-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112113501/http://findlakes.com/h.v._eastman_lake_california~ca10243.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The damsite was proposed for one of Project Plowshare's nuclear excavation projects, with a 10-kiloton nuclear explosion proposed under Project Travois for 1970 to create about {{convert|2000000|cuyd|m3}} of aggregate for dam construction. The proposal was abandoned, and the dam was constructed by conventional means.<ref name=OSTI1>{{Cite report |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc829257/m2/1/high_res_d/1046575.pdf |title=The Off-Site Plowshare and Vela Uniform Programs: Assessing Potential Environmental Liabilities through an Examination of Proposed Nuclear Projects, High Explosive Experiments, and High Explosive Construction Activities |last=Beck |first=Colleen M. |last2=Edwards |first2=Susan R. |last3=King |first3=Maureen L. |date=2011-09-01 |issue=Tech Rpt 111 DOE/NV/26383-22, 1046575 |doi=10.2172/1046575 |osti=1046575 |volume=1 |language=en|section=Project Travois|pages=3-259 - 3-262}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} * [http://www.yosemite-sierra.com/eastman.htm Yosemite / Buchanan Dam and Eastman Lake Madera County Film Commission]

==External links== * [https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Locations/Sacramento-District-Parks/Eastman-Lake/ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Eastman Lake]

==External links== * {{gnis|1664768}}

Category:Reservoirs in Madera County, California Category:Reservoirs in Mariposa County, California Category:San Joaquin River Category:Reservoirs in California Category:Reservoirs in Northern California