Lake Success is a reservoir on the Tule River in the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 5 miles east of Porterville in Tulare County, California. It’s a straightforward, no-frills lake — no forested shoreline, no resort infrastructure — but it offers solid bass fishing, open-water boating, and one of the best birding sites in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The lake sits at the southern edge of the Central Valley with views of the Sierra Nevada to the east, and California State Route 190 crosses the lake via its only bridge.
The Dam and Water Levels
Lake Success is impounded by the Richard L. Schafer Dam (renamed from Success Dam by Congress in 2019), a 156-foot-tall earthen embankment dam built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1961. The dam’s primary purpose is flood control, with secondary uses for irrigation and recreation.
The lake’s history has been shaped by seismic concerns. In 1999, surveys indicated the dam could fail in an earthquake due to unstable alluvial foundation deposits. The lake level was drawn down to 28,800 acre-feet in 2004 — just 35% of its built capacity — which effectively killed the marina and severely limited recreation for years. Subsequent studies found the risk was lower than initially feared, and the reservoir was partially refilled to 65,000 acre-feet while a major remediation project was planned.
The good news: a $500+ million seismic remediation and enlargement project has been completed. The spillway was raised 10 feet, increasing total storage capacity to approximately 110,000–112,000 acre-feet — significantly more than the original 82,000 acre-foot design. The dam passed a real-world test in January 2023 when a magnitude 3.2 earthquake struck directly beneath the lake; post-earthquake inspections found no damage. Lake Success is now in its best operational condition since construction.
Water levels still fluctuate significantly depending on rainfall, snowmelt, and dam operations. The lake’s surface area can vary dramatically — from a modest fraction of its full pool to several thousand acres when full. Check current water levels with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District before planning a trip, as low-water conditions can limit boat access and recreation.
Fishing
Lake Success is considered one of the top largemouth bass lakes in the San Joaquin Valley. The bass population is healthy and numerous, though fish tend to run on the smaller side. Bass tournaments are held here regularly. Other species include bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, and occasional trout. The lake’s irregular shoreline with multiple bays creates good structure for bass anglers working the banks.
A valid California fishing license is required. Verify current regulations with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as bag limits and species-specific rules can change. For more fishing in the region, Lake Elsinore is another popular Central/Southern California option.
Boating
Lake Success is fully open to motorized and non-motorized boating. On hot summer weekends, the lake is busy with fishing boats, ski boats, jet skis, pontoon boats, kayaks, and canoes. A 5 mph speed limit applies from dusk to dawn, and waterskiing and jet skiing are prohibited during those hours. The lake’s irregular coastline creates sheltered bays that are particularly well suited for kayaking and canoeing.
Success Lake Marina was rebuilt in 2015 after the original was lost during the low-water period. The marina operates year-round (busiest June through August) and offers boat slip rentals, pontoon boats (10- and 20-person, some with slides), fishing boats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and water bikes. The marina shop stocks beverages, snacks, tackle, live bait, and basic supplies.
Camping and Day Use
Rocky Hill Campground offers non-electric campsites with a picnic area and a boat launch ramp. The campground is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — availability can be first-come, first-served or reservable depending on the season, so check current policy before arriving.
Bartlett Park is a day-use area with picnic shelters and a playground. Both locations offer views of the lake with the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop. There are no official swimming beaches, though informal swimming spots exist along the shoreline.
There is no lakefront real estate — the shoreline is public land managed as a buffer. Lodging options in nearby Porterville include motels, cabins, and vacation rentals. For camping in the broader Sierra foothills, California cabin rentals cover options throughout the region.
Wildlife and Birding
A 1,499-acre wildlife refuge protects a portion of the northwest shoreline and is regarded as one of the best birding sites in Tulare County. The combination of open water, wetlands, grasslands, and pothole ponds supports a diverse range of species year-round.
On the water, look for American white pelicans, Canada geese, mallards, grebes, and coots. Bald eagles and golden eagles are observed over the lake, and both have bred in the area. The wetlands along the shoreline provide habitat for herons, egrets, and kingfishers. Surrounding grasslands support California quail, cottontail rabbits, jackrabbits, and black-tailed deer.
The area is particularly notable for breeding Grasshopper Sparrows in the valley-floor grassland north and west of the lake, and hundreds of breeding Tricolored Blackbirds have been documented in a nearby quarry pond. The Burrowing Owl, now virtually extinct near the base of the Sierras elsewhere, remains resident here. In winter, thousands of waterfowl — particularly American Wigeon and Common Merganser — gather on the reservoir, and hundreds of migrating shorebirds can be seen along the muddy northern margins in late October. During hunting season, certain areas of the wildlife refuge are open to hunters.
History
Construction of the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1961, with the official dedication on May 18, 1962. Building the dam required the relocation of an entire cemetery — the Wilcox Cemetery was moved from the Wilcox Ranch to the Home of Peace Cemetery in Porterville, with some burial dates reaching back to 1859. The recreation areas of Bartlett Park and Porterville Beach were destroyed, and several families lost their homes to make way for the reservoir.
In August 2019, Congress renamed Success Dam as the Richard L. Schafer Dam. In January 2025, the dam received national attention when federal orders were issued to release water from several California dams following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, though the connection between Lake Success releases and LA water supply was questioned at the time.
Getting There
Lake Success is located about 5 miles east of Porterville via CA Route 190. From Fresno, take CA-99 south to Porterville (about 75 miles), then head east on 190. From Bakersfield, take CA-65 north to Porterville (about 60 miles). The lake is roughly 45 minutes from Sequoia National Park’s southern entrance and sits at the transition zone between the Central Valley floor and the Sierra foothills.
For a broader Central California trip, Lake Success pairs well with a visit to Sequoia and Kings Canyon to the east or the agricultural towns of the southern San Joaquin Valley. It’s not a destination lake in the way that Sierra alpine lakes are — but for boating, bass fishing, and birding in an uncrowded setting, it delivers more than its modest profile suggests.
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