Camanche Reservoir is a source of water for industrial and municipal purposes and also provides flood control.

[5] Camanche Reservoir has recreation areas throughout the lake, which are mainly located on the North and South shores.

The North Shore hosts some of the recreation features of Camanche Reservoir, including close to 800 campsites.

It also contains the two RV parks which offer full hook-ups, (water, electric, and sewer) and an amphitheater where numerous events are held.

The reservoir has an ability to hold 417,120 acre feet (AF) of water at maximum capacity.

This is due to the decreased amount of precipitation and snowpack melt water received in the Mokelumne River.

[7] Ground water sources surrounding the reservoir typically flow in similar patterns to the surface streams.

This hatchery was built in 1963 to help recover the fish spawning levels that traditionally existed in the river.

Near Camanche Reservoir small mammal species such as squirrels and rodents are abundant and can be seen from various recreation areas.

The fires have been suppressed in present times due to human development and populations in the surrounding area.

Characteristics of the climate near Camanche Reservoir include relatively low annual rainfall, warm to hot summers, and cool mild winters.

The majority of the annual precipitation is in the form of rain, and falls mainly during the winter months.

Loam soil types are typically sandy in texture and composition and also contain portions of silt and clay.

Due to the upland areas near the reservoir, the rock land soil type is dominant.

The structural geology of the area has experienced changes in the past due to plate tectonics, influencing the layout and shape of the surrounding land.

The communities of Camanche, Lancha Plana, and Poverty Bar were inundated by the creation of this reservoir.

Camanche remained a small town, and was eventually evacuated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District to build the dam and reservoir that exists there today.

[14] The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment released an advisory statement regarding eating fish caught from this reservoir based on the mercury level.

[15] Any boat entering the reservoir is subject to inspection to help prevent the spread of invasive Quagga Muscles.