Every Lake
Upper Oso Reservoir
64 acres tucked into the foothills above Irvine, max depth about 43 feet
- 7 ft · first step
- 14 ft
- 22 ft
- 29 ft
- 36 ft
- 43 ft · bottom
About Upper Oso Reservoir
Upper Oso Reservoir sits in the foothills near Irvine, California, at roughly 33.66 degrees north, 117.63 degrees west. It covers about 64 acres with a shoreline stretching close to a mile, making it one of the smaller impoundments in the region rather than a major regional reservoir. Its modest size has kept it out of most statewide lake directories, and much of what's documented about it comes from local water district and flood-control records rather than tourism guides.
The reservoir functions primarily as a water-management feature for the surrounding Orange County foothill communities, holding runoff from the canyons above Irvine. At a modeled maximum depth near 43 feet, it's shallow enough that seasonal rainfall visibly changes its level year to year. Access tends to be limited compared to larger nearby lakes, and it draws far more interest from local residents managing runoff and habitat than from boaters or vacationers passing through.
- 9 roads engraved around the shore, 3 of them labeled
- 6 depth layers, each step engraved with its depth in feet
- Compass rose, title block with coordinates, max depth and area; keyhole hanger on the back
Turn it in your hands
Live 3D of the actual cut files — drag to orbit, pinch to zoom. Every road you see is engraved on the real thing.
Viewer not showing? Open it full screen.
Upper Oso Reservoir depth chart, in wood
This is a Upper Oso Reservoir depth chart you can hang: 6 stacked layers of birch, each one a depth contour — 7 ft, 14 ft, 22 ft, 29 ft, 36 ft and deeper, down to the deepest hole at about 43 ft. The lake covers about 0.1 square miles, and 9 shore roads are engraved around it. The shape of the bottom is the real one from published soundings, so anglers recognise their drop-offs and points.
A Upper Oso Reservoir map for the wall — or a gift
Most of these go to a cabin wall, a lake house entry, or a home office; a lot are gifts — the family that has been on Upper Oso Reservoir for three generations, the retirement move, the first boat. The 12-inch is the desk-and-shelf size; the 24- and 30-inch boards read across a room. Add a line under the title and star your place on the shore, and it becomes the map of your Upper Oso Reservoir.
Upper Oso Reservoir map — the details
How big is the map?
Four sizes: 12, 17, 24 and 30 inches on the long side, from $149. Every size is cut from the same depth data of Upper Oso Reservoir; the bigger boards carry more shoreline roads and place names.
Is it made from real depth data?
Yes. Upper Oso Reservoir is cut layer by layer from published bathymetric soundings — each layer of birch is a depth contour, so the shape of the bottom is the real one, not decorative.
Can I add my own place on it?
Yes. At checkout you can add a line under the title (a family name, a cabin name, a year) and star the spot on the shore that matters to you.
How long does it take?
Made to order in Waterford, Pennsylvania and shipped in 7–10 days; shipping is free in the lower 48.
Can you make a lake that isn't listed?
Any lake in the United States — we hold depth data for 104,419 of them. Search for yours; if it isn't built yet we build it when you order.
- 6 depth layers down to 43 ft
- 0.1 square miles of water
- 9 shore roads engraved, 3 named
- Title block, compass rose and depth markers
- Birch plywood, keyhole hanger, made in Waterford, PA
