Sonoma County Parks Foundation
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Spring Lake Regional Park
​50th Anniversary
​1973-2023

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History of Spring Lake

Spring Lake was originally constructed by Sonoma Water from 1961 to 1964 as a flood protection reservoir. The lake consists of three steel and concrete dams, spillways, channels and flow regulators to protect Santa Rosa from flooding.
 
The lake is designed to accommodate water equal to a 100-year flood, meaning a storm that has a one in 100 chance of occurring on any given year. Only once, in 1986, has flooding been so severe that it exceeded Spring Lake’s capacity
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This aerial view shows the Spring Lake reservoir shortly after its creation in 1963. (Don Meacham Photography Collection 1930-1985, Sonoma County Library Photograph Collection)
In 1973, the young Sonoma County Regional Parks Department (established in 1967) added Spring Lake as one of its first county parks.
 
Originally, the City of Santa Rosa intended to build an extension of Highway 12 that would involve a bridge over the park, connecting Highway 101 to the Sonoma Valley. Over the years, as visitation to the popular park reached hundreds of thousands of guests annually, this proposal met with stiff opposition.
 
By the early 2000s, the City gave up on this proposal. To celebrate, community members who had fought the highway extension installed a bench at Spring Lake Park in the exact location where the highway extension had been proposed.
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To learn more about this achievement, please read more about the history here.

Celebrating Spring Lake Regional Park's Golden Anniversary

In 2023, the nonprofit Sonoma County Parks Foundation, Sonoma County Regional Parks and Sonoma Water will celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary. Regional Parks kicks off the anniversary year May 6-7 with a weekend of activities (hotlink) at the park.
 
The Parks Foundation will launch a Spring Lake 50th Anniversary fundraising campaign for improvements at the beloved park and the popular Environmental Discovery Center, as well as youth programs. Funds raised through the campaign will support:
  • Constructing a new floating dock with accessible kayak launch
  • Upgrading the Environmental Discovery Center 
  • Supporting children with limited resources at Regional Parks' summer camps and youth programs.​

In honor of the 50th anniversary, gifts of $50 and above will receive a special Spring Lake bandanna, and gifts of $500 and above will receive a commemorative Spring Lake pendant.

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DONATE TO SPRING LAKE
The Parks Foundation also is planning some fun activities that you can explore independently to celebrate Spring Lake’s 50th Anniversary. Click below to learn more: (these would need to open up to individual pages)

  • “How well do YOU know Spring Lake Regional Park?” – a family-friendly scavenger hunt​
  • Spring Lake 50th Anniversary Photo Contest – Take photos of your favorite park! Win prizes!
 
We look forward to celebrating this important park milestone with you!

Thank you Spring Lake 50th Anniversary Donors!

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EN ESPAÑOL
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OUR MISSION
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation raises funds, fosters partnerships and advocates on behalf of Sonoma County Regional Parks. We are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports programs and projects at 60+ Sonoma County parks and trails, including popular destinations like Spring Lake, Doran Beach, Sonoma Valley, Ragle Ranch, Foothill Regional Park, Tolay Lake Regional Park and more.
OUR ADDRESS
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation
2300 County Center Drive, #120A
Santa Rosa, California 95403
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Copyright 2023 Sonoma County Parks Foundation
MAKE A DONATION
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TAX ID: 68-0421813
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Learn more about Sonoma County
​Regional Parks and become a member. 
  • Home
  • OUR WORK
    • Climate Action
    • PARKS & TRAILS >
      • Doran
      • Foothill
      • Helen Putnam
      • Hood Mountain >
        • Bill & Dave Legacy Fund
      • Maxwell Farms
      • Spring Lake
      • Taylor Mountain
    • PARKS PROGRAMS >
      • Camperships
      • Youth Career Pathways
      • YES! Youth Exploring Sonoma
      • Russian River Water Safety Patrol
      • Vamos a Nadar
      • Science Field Trips
  • EVENTS
    • Water Bark
    • Sonoma Harvest Music Festival
  • MAKE A DONATION
    • Ways to Give
    • Park Pals
    • Sponsorships
    • Corporate Matching Programs
    • Legacy Society
    • SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES
  • VIDEOS & PUBLICATIONS
    • VIDEO: 2022 We Owe it All to You
    • VIDEO: MEET THE SNOWY PLOVER
    • VIDEO: 2021 Celebrating An Amazing Year
    • VIDEO: YOUTH PROGRAMS
    • VIDEO: CAMPERSHIPS
    • VIDEO: Meet the Parks Foundation
    • VIDEO: You are the Foundation
    • VIDEO: Working Together at Helen Putnam Regional Park
    • VIDEO: The Trails You Love
    • STORIES: FOR THE LOVE OF PARKS
    • E-News
    • Media Archive >
      • Archive: Foothill Regional Park
      • Archive: Hood Mountain
  • ABOUT US
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff