Storage capacity, detention time, and selected sediment deposition characteristics for Gull and Silver Lakes, Mono County, California

Bathymetric surveys made in September 1994 indicate the maximum storage capacity of Gull and Silver Lakes, California, is about 2,400 and 3,000 acre-feet, respectively. During March through October 1994, the lake level dropped 0.7 feet at both Gull Lake and Silver Lake. The associated change in storage was 60 acre-feet at Gull Lake and 80 acre-feet at Silver Lake. The flow detention time for average annual flow conditions at Gull Lake is about 2.5 years and for Silver Lake, the average detention time is about 19 days. Sediment deposition at the inlet to Silver Lake has been monitored since 1951 using aerial photography. During 1963 through 1994, the area of sediment deposition increased from 0.32 to about 2.4 acres. Analyses of these data indicate that the rate of deposition was lower during 1951-72 than the rate during 1973-94. Sediment deposition at the lake inlet is a continuing phenomenon.