FACT Primitive camping along the lakeshore, known as Dispersed Area Camping, is a unique and popular activity that allows Don Pedro Lake campers to travel by boat and set up camp along the water’s edge in primitive locations. Such use requires a Dispersed Area Camping/Lake Navigation Map and permit (obtain at the entrance station - first come first serve). Campers are reminded that open fires are not allowed and to be prepared for primitive conditions. “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints”… Operation and maintenance of the Don Pedro Recreation Area is mostly supported by facility use fees with some contributions from the sponsoring Agencies. "Don Pedro" was actually a mid-1800’s land owner of French descent, named Pierre Sainsevain. He was known as Don Pedro by the Mexicans in the area. The land he owned along the Tuolumne River included Don Pedro Bar which is now inundated by Don Pedro Lake. Numerous species of fish exist in Don Pedro Lake, including salmon! Kokanee, King and Silver salmon can be caught at the lake with the Kings reaching weights in excess of 10 lbs! The biggest largemouth bass caught at Don Pedro Lake to date has been recorded at 18.9 lbs. Water from Don Pedro Lake is primarily used for irrigating the farm land that falls within the Turlock Irrigation District and Modesto Irrigation District boundaries. It is also used for power generation, and adds to the drinking water supply for City of Modesto. Don Pedro Dam also provides flood control for California’s Central Valley. No need to stockpile your quarters when camping at Don Pedro Lake’s developed campgrounds. Hot showers are available at no charge! The crest of Don Pedro Dam is 855’ above sea level. The water in Don Pedro Lake is at its maximum elevation when it is 830’ above sea level. The old Don Pedro Dam still exists at Don Pedro Lake. Some 220’ under the water of a full lake, the old Don Pedro Dam is 1.5 miles upstream from the current dam’s location. Completed in 1923, it was, at the time, the world’s largest concrete gravity dam. The lake created by the old dam, with its storage capacity of 289.000 acre feet, was only 14% of the capacity of the current lake. Don Pedro Dam rises 580 feet above the Tuolumne River. Well over 60 bass and fishing tournaments are held annually at Don Pedro Lake. The fish caught during these tournaments are released back into the lake to be caught another day! Hook-up campsites at the three developed camping areas offer electrical connections of 30 amps (120V power) and 20 amps (120V power). The warm weather of summer beckons water activity, bringing about over 80% of the recreation use between the months of May and September. Even though the weather in spring and fall can be less predictable, some of the area’s most beautiful weather with comfortable temperatures occurs at that time. Outlaws of the mid 1800’s frequented the area around Don Pedro Lake. Marshes Flat Road, located along the east side of the lake, was a route frequently traveled by the likes of outlaw Joaquin Murrieta, where he was also known to hideout after his misdeeds. Water is not directly diverted from Don Pedro Lake to the City and County of San Francisco. The City and County of San Francisco’s partnership in the construction of the current Don Pedro Dam benefits them through the relief from upstream flood control responsibilities and greater flexibility in its upstream water operations.