Secret Creek is a small desert stream of approximately forty miles that originates from Shinn Peaks in eastern Lassen County. While spring run-off of snow melt from Shinn Peaks at times can be substanial, it is the numerous springs of the upper watershed that sustain the creek. When the stream departs Secret Valley, it enters Balls Canyon and near Belfast empties into Willow Creek.
In 1889, a diversion of the creek was built after it leaves Balls Canyon. The sole purpose was to collect spring run-off to store at Ward Lakes Reservoir, for irrigation. There were actually two reservoirs, hence the plural of its name. The upper reservoir was significally smaller..
In 1889, the Balls Canyon Reservoir Company was formed to build a dam on Secret Creek where it enters the Honey Lake Valley, about five miles west of Litchfield. The company employed surveyor, Frank Gates Ward (1857-1895), to survey a dam and reservoir site. In 1889-90, the first reservoir was constructed. In February 1890, a flood washed out that dam. As one observer noted, the waters of Secret Creek began rising at a rate of two feet an hour and within three hours the 27 foot high structure, that measured 150 feet in length, was swept away. The company planned to rebuild but never did. In 1895, Edward T. Purser took over the project and a new reservoir was constructed, along with a twenty-mile ditch to his property near Wendel.