Elkhead Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elkhead Reservoir |
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 Elkhead Reservoir
Location in Colorado
Elkhead Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 40°34′41″N 107°22′26″W / 40.578°N 107.374°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Water volume | 25,550 acre-feet (0.03152 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 6,355 feet (1,937 m) |
Elkhead Reservoir is a large, man-made lake located in northwest Colorado. It is found near the town of Craig. This important reservoir was first built to hold water from Elkhead Creek. Elkhead Creek is a major stream that flows into the Yampa River.
Imagine a giant bowl collecting water! Elkhead Reservoir gathers water from a wide area of about 205 square miles (531 km²). It can hold a huge amount of water, about 25,550 acre-feet. That's like 31.5 million cubic meters of water!
Building and Expanding the Reservoir
The original dam for Elkhead Reservoir was built by the Division of Wildlife. This division helps manage Colorado's natural resources.
Dam Enlargement Project
The dam was made much bigger over two years, finishing in 2006. This project cost about $31 million. The dam's height was raised by 25 feet (7.6 meters). This also made the water level in the reservoir 20 feet (6.1 meters) higher. The reservoir sits at an elevation of 6,355 feet (1,937 meters) above sea level.
Elkhead State Park
Elkhead Reservoir is a big part of Elkhead State Park. State parks are special places that protect nature and offer fun activities for people.
