Barker Meadow Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barker Reservoir |
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 Barker Reservoir
Location in Colorado
Barker Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boulder County, Colorado, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°57′55″N 105°29′34″W / 39.96528°N 105.49278°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1.70 km2 (0.66 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 8.3 m (27 ft) |
| Max. depth | 36.6 m (120 ft) |
| Water volume | 14.185×106 m3 (11,500 acre⋅ft) |
| Residence time | 104 days |
| Surface elevation | 8,183 ft (2,494 m) |
Barker Reservoir is a man-made lake in Colorado. It helps supply water to people living in the area. You can find it near the town of Nederland, Colorado. This reservoir is located in the southwestern part of Boulder County.
Contents
What is Barker Reservoir?
Barker Reservoir is a special type of lake called a reservoir. Reservoirs are built to store water. This water can be used for many things. For example, it can provide drinking water for cities. It can also help make electricity.
How Barker Reservoir Helps
The water from Barker Reservoir is very important. It flows to a special power plant. This plant uses the water to create hydroelectric power. This means it makes electricity using the force of moving water. The reservoir also sends water to the city of Boulder, Colorado. This water is used by homes and businesses.
History of Barker Dam and Reservoir
The story of Barker Reservoir began a long time ago. In 1908, a company called Central Colorado Power Company started building Barker Dam. They wanted to make electricity for nearby mining towns. They also wanted to power the city of Denver.
Building the Dam
The dam was finished in 1910. It was named after Mrs. Hannah Connell Barker. She owned the land where the dam was built. At first, Mrs. Barker did not want to sell her land. But the company needed it for the dam. They used a legal process to buy the land from her. This process is similar to what we call eminent domain today. It allows the government or a company to buy private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell, as long as they pay a fair price.
Building the dam was a big job. Workers used a special train track. This track was part of the Switzerland Trail railroad. They used it to carry heavy materials like concrete to the dam site. The railroad later closed down in 1919.
Who Owns the Reservoir Now?
For many years, the dam and reservoir were owned by the power company. But in 2001, the city of Boulder bought them. Now, the city of Boulder manages Barker Reservoir.
How Barker Reservoir Works
The city of Boulder uses the reservoir mainly for its water supply. This means it provides drinking water to the city. It also helps make hydroelectric power.
Making Electricity
Water from the reservoir flows through a large pipe called an aqueduct. This pipe starts just below the dam. The water travels several miles downhill. It goes to a hydroelectric plant near Boulder Canyon. The water drops about 1500 feet. This big drop creates a lot of force. This force spins machines that make electricity.
