As of the 2020 United States census, Bass Lake had a population of 575.[4] The area is a popular destination for outdoor activities including boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking.
The region was originally inhabited by the Mono and later developed for logging and hydroelectric power. In the 20th century, it transitioned into a recreational and seasonal residential community. Bass Lake has also appeared in several films and was known for hosting annual Hells Angels gatherings during the 1960s and 1970s. Today, it stands as an example of early multi-use land planning shaped by infrastructure, resource use, and tourism.
In recent decades, environmental pressures—including bark beetle infestations, drought, and wildfire—have significantly impacted the surrounding ponderosa pine forests.
Geography
Bass Lake is a reservoir on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in Madera County, California, at an elevation of 3,370 feet (1,030m).[5] It was formed by the construction of Crane Valley Dam on North Fork Willow Creek. Additional inflows include South Fork Willow Creek (via Brown’s Ditch) and Slide, Pines, and Salter Creeks; Willow Creek is the outflow to the San Joaquin River. The lake is bounded by Malum Ridge to the south, Graham Mountain (6,090 feet (1,860m)) to the northeast, and Goat Mountain (about 4,975 feet (1,516m)) to the west.[6][7][8][9]
Demographics
At the 2020 United States Census, Bass Lake had a population of 575.[10] The racial composition was 81.0% White (non-Hispanic), 11.8% Hispanic or Latino, and less than 1% each identifying as Black or African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, or another race.[10]
The community had 868 housing units, of which 293 were occupied. Average household size was 2.0 persons. About 66% of units were reported as vacant, primarily for seasonal or recreational use.[10]
Age distribution showed 45.0% of residents were 65 years or older, while 10.6% were under 18.[10]
According to the American Community Survey, the estimated median household income was $152,083.[11]
The population has increased from 493 in 2000 and 527 in 2010.[10]
Climate
Bass Lake has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen CSA), with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Although winters are generally rainy, the area occasionally receives heavy snowfall. The community is in hardiness zone 8b.[12]
The area is also affected by Mono winds, downslope wind events that occur mainly between October and April, most often in December and January.[13] On average, one or two such events occur per year. A storm in January 2021 felled hundreds of trees and damaged structures in the Bass Lake area.[14]
The reservoir supports more than 16 fish species, including trout, bass, kokanee salmon, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. Bass were introduced in the late 19th century, and their success gave the lake its present name.[17] Rainbow trout are stocked annually by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.[18] The Bass Lake Fishing Derby, held each year, helps maintain trout populations. Resource agencies have also implemented programs to reduce non-game fish.[19]
Pine beetle infestation in 1933.
Beetle infestation in 2015.
Bass Lake’s forests have been heavily impacted by pine beetle outbreaks, particularly from the mountain and western pine beetle species, which have killed large numbers of trees.[20]
In recent years, drought conditions and record-setting wildfires have further stressed the ecosystem. From 2011 to 2020, a combination of prolonged drought, beetle infestations, and intense fire activity led to a dramatic loss of ponderosa pine stands. The 2014 Courtney Fire was especially destructive, wiping out most trees within its 80-acre perimeter—from Bass Lake Heights down to the lake’s edge.[21]
Human history
Native people
The Bass Lake area was historically inhabited by the Mono people. Many were displaced in 1851 during the Mariposa War.[22] A battle near Goat Mountain in January 1851 resulted in the death of Chief Jose Ray; the site was later called Battle Mountain, before being renamed Goat Mountain in the early 20th century.[23]
Some Mono families remained in the area after the war. When the Sierra National Forest was established in 1897, land-use permits were required to graze livestock, cut timber, or build dwellings. These permits were restricted to U.S. citizens, which excluded Native Americans at the time. The restriction remained in effect until the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, which granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans. By the time of the Act’s passage in 1924, most Mono families had left the Bass Lake area.[24]
Lumber industry
Hauling logs over Bass Lake Dam in 1926.
The first sawmill in the Bass Lake area was built in 1854 at the base of Willow Creek falls by Charles P. Converse and Bill Chitiser. It was the first lumber mill in what is now Madera County.[25] Logging in the Crane Valley basin cleared land that was later used for ranching, farming, and eventually the creation of the Bass Lake reservoir.
In the 1920s, the town of Wishon, on the western shore of Bass Lake, became the headquarters of the Sugar Pine Lumber Company, the last major logging enterprise established in the Southern Sierra Nevada. The company operated a rail line connecting Bass Lake with Central Camp, its main logging site. The route extended about twelve miles with grades up to 4.5 percent, and was worked by a large saddle-tank locomotive built for the operation.[26]
The railroad was not profitable, and in its final two years operated briefly as a tourist line from Pinedale before closing in 1931.[27]
Hydroelectricity
Bass Lake in December: Water levels at 35% capacity, ready for seasonal runoff
The dam was raised in 1905 and again in 1910, reaching a height of 145 feet (44m). A seismic retrofit completed in 2012 added about 300,000 cubic yards (230,000m3) of rockfill and raised the crest by 8 feet (2.4m).[29]
Reservoir levels are drawn down each year for irrigation and power generation, with storage reduced to about 35% of capacity by winter to accommodate runoff.[30] Bass Lake is not designed for multi-year storage.[31]
In 2020, PG&E announced plans to sell the Crane Valley Hydroelectric Project, which includes Bass Lake and associated facilities.[32]
Wishon Airport
Wishon Airport
The Wishon airstrip opened in June 1937 on the western shore of Bass Lake. It was originally constructed for U.S. Forest Service use but was also used by private pilots.[33][34]
The unpaved runway was about 2,200 feet (670m) long and operated as a one-way strip, requiring approaches over the lake.[35] The FAA declined to certify the facility in the 1960s, citing safety concerns. Operations ended in the 1980s, and the site was later redeveloped for housing.[36]
Hells Angels
Hunter S. Thompson described the Bass Lake gatherings in his 1966 book Hell's Angels.
Beginning in 1963, Bass Lake was the site of annual gatherings by the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, often held on Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends. The events, known as the "Bass Lake Runs," attracted riders from across California and drew attention from local officials and the press.[37][38]
One of the largest gatherings occurred in July 1965, when Madera County officials secured a court injunction and established roadblocks in anticipation of unrest. Law enforcement photographed and issued warnings to incoming riders.[38][39] The event was covered by national outlets including Newsweek and Life. Journalist Hunter S. Thompson attended and later described the run in his book, devoting a chapter to the Bass Lake gathering.[38][40]
The 1965 run concluded with only minor arrests for public intoxication. Local media noted the absence of major violence, and Thompson credited local businesses that served the riders as a moderating factor.[37][38]
The Bass Lake Runs continued into the 1970s but declined in scale and prominence as law enforcement measures expanded and public interest waned.[41] By the 1980s the events had largely ended, though they remain documented in accounts of California’s cultural history.[42]
Development
Most of the land surrounding Bass Lake is part of the Sierra National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service has designated the area as a Recreation Area, with public campgrounds and picnic sites along the southern shore.
Residential development
Private homes are concentrated on the north shore, primarily within the Pines Tract. These cabins were first developed in the 1930s under sub-lease agreements with PG&E. In 1992 PG&E sold about 125 acres (51ha) of land to the Bass Lake Homeowners Association, formalizing ownership of the tract.[43]
Resorts
Several long-standing resorts operate around the lake. On the north shore, Ducey’s Lodge was built in 1941 and rebuilt after a fire in 1988.[44] Nearby, The Pines Resort, first established in 1901, was reconstructed after a fire in 1962.[45]
On the south shore, The Forks Resort opened in 1927,[46] and Miller’s Landing was established in 1928 by John McDougald.[47]
Recreation
Wakeboarding before sunset.
Bass Lake has been a regional recreation destination since the mid-20th century. By 1955 it was reported to attract more than half a million visitors annually.[48] The lake supports activities such as fishing, swimming, water skiing, and boating, and serves as a base for access to nearby Sierra Nevada trails and Yosemite National Park.[49]
An Independence Day fireworks display has been held at the lake since the 1930s, drawing large crowds from across Madera County.[50][51]
The lake also has a history in competitive sport. It hosted the 1983 and 1984 United States Triathlon Series National Championships,[52] and triathlon events continue to be staged there in the 21st century.[53]
Education
Bass Lake was served by Bass Lake Elementary School on the lake’s north shore. The school opened in 1947 and operated until 2010.[54]
Throughout its history the school faced low enrollment, often under 100 students.[55] By its final year enrollment had declined to 44, and the school district cited financial pressures in deciding to close the campus.[56]
In media
Bass Lake has been used as a filming location for several motion pictures.
In 1931, RKO shot scenes for Carnival Boat at the Sugar Pine Lumber Company on the lake’s eastern shore.[57]
↑ Freeman, Marcia Penner (2013). Willow Creek History: Tales of Cow Camps, Shake Makers & Basket Weavers. The History Press. pp.23–29. ISBN978-1-60949-644-9.
↑ Fenimons, Frank. "An Ideal Mountain Valley: A Graphic Description of One of the Many Beauty Spots in the Sierra Nevada Range." Fresno Evening Herald, vol. XLVI, no. 92, April 16, 1912. [California Digital Newspaper Collection link]
↑ Barnes, Dwight H. (2001). Miners, Lumberjacks and Cowboys: A History of Eastern Madera County. Sierra Historic Sites Association. p.13. ISBN0-9707605-0-7.
↑ Ritzman, David; Makdisi, Faiz; de Larios, Joseph; Sun, Joseph; Ahlgren, Charles (May 2, 2013). "Seismic Retrofit of Crane Valley Dam". Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
↑ Ritzman, David; Makdisi, Faiz; de Larios, Joseph; Sun, Joseph; Ahlgren, Charles (May 2, 2013). "Seismic Retrofit of Crane Valley Dam". Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
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