Lake San Antonio is a large man-made reservoir in southern Monterey County, created by a dam on the San Antonio River. The water level fluctuates dramatically with seasonal rainfall: the lake may be full, and extending far to the north, in wet years, but be reduced to a much smaller size, with extensive bare mudflats encircling the lake, in drought years.

Bald Eagles are the premier species here. For many years, the wintering eagles here were the only regularly-occurring Bald Eagles in the Monterey County. Since the 1990s, pairs have nested along the lakeshore, and the population is now resident. In some years, Monterey County offered "Bald Eagle" boat tours to see eagles year-round. [Since Covid, I'm not sure these are still running.] A small population Osprey also winter here.

In good conditions, when the lake level is high and extends well north of Pleyto, large mixed colonies of Western and Clark's Grebe nest at the north end of the lake.  Other breeding birds of interest include Green Heron and Phainopepla.

From Monterey County website: "Lake San Antonio Park is Monterey County’s premier freshwater recreation area and features North Shore and South Shore park facilities. Located on the Lake San Antonio River just 20 miles inland from California’s beautiful Central Coast and midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Lake San Antonio offers year-round activities including picnicking, overnight camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, boating, and waterskiing.

Lake San Antonio offers exceptional overnight camping under shady oak trees in Central California. For campers, Lake San Antonio has tent, partial, and full hookup RV sites, all located in beautiful settings abundant with amazing wildlife. The Lake is famous for its great fishing, including plentiful striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill, providing great sport for the avid angler."