Lake Cerrillos

Lake Cerrillos (Spanish: Lago Cerrillos) is a man-made lake located in barrio Maragüez, Ponce, Puerto Rico.[2] The lake was finished in 1992 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.[3] 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.[4] The 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games that were held in Ponce staged the canoeing competitions in this lake.[5] It was used in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games for the sports of Canoeing, Rowing.[6] The lake is the main drinking water source for the city of Ponce.[7]

Lago Cerrillos
Lake Cerrillos viewed facing south, with the Lake Cerrillos Dam in the distance
Lago Cerrillos
LocationBarrio Maragüez, Ponce
Coordinates18°05′20″N 66°34′45″W
Typeartificial reservoir
Basin countriesPuerto Rico
Water volume47,900 acre feet (59,100,000 m3)[1]
SettlementsPonce

Dam
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.[5] 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.[5]

The dam is 323 feet (98 m) high by 1,555 feet (474 m) wide (over 1/4 mile wide).[8] The Dam is located 9.5 miles (15.3 km) from the coast of Ponce, at 323 feet (98 m) above sea level. It provides a volume of 47,900 acre feet (59,100,000 m3) for flood control, as well as an estimated 22,000,000 US gallons per day (83,000 m3/d) of drinking water.[9] The ideal height of the reservoir for purposes of its drinking water supply is 173.40 meters.[10]

Recreational facilities
Cerrillos Park, located north of the lake, showing the Atracadero area
Main article: 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.[5] 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.[11] 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
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 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.[12]

The lake was also used for the 2013 Pan American Canoe Sprint Championships during 16 – 20 October 2013.[13] It had also been used for that event in 1999.[14]

See also

References
  1. "USGS Lago Cerrillos". USGS. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  2. Let'sGoToPonce: Insider's Guide to Southern Puerto Rico. Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Lake Cerrillos. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  3. "USGS Lago Cerrillos". USGS. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  4. "Lago Cerrillos". lobinapr. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  5. Lake Cerrillos Dam. Travel-Ponce.
  6. "Lago Cerrillos". Mayagüez 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  7. Lago Cerrillos casi a secas. Darisabel Texidor Guadalupe. Primera Hora. 1 August 2014.. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  8. Recursos Naturales: Represa Cerrillos. Website of the Government of the Municipality of Ponce. VisitPonce.com (Home page > Descubrelo > Recursos Naturales) Archived at the WayBack Machine on 20 June 2010. Accessed 24 July 2019.
  9. "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". Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  10. Persiste llamado para conservar agua. Reinaldo Millán y Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  11. "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". Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  12. "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". Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  13. Home: Pan American Canoe Sprint Championships Updates. Pan American Canoe Federation. COPAC. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  14. 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.
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