Imperial Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Imperial Reservoir |
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Imperial Diversion Dam and Reservoir complex in 1972
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 Imperial Reservoir
Location in California
Imperial Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lower Colorado River Valley Imperial County, California Yuma County, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 32°53′00″N 114°28′04″W / 32.8833°N 114.4677°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Colorado River |
| Primary outflows | Colorado River |
| Catchment area | 5,756 acres (2,329 ha) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 28 km2 (11 sq mi) |
| Water volume | 160,000 acre⋅ft (200,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 56 m (184 ft) |
The Imperial Reservoir is a large, man-made lake. It was created when the Imperial Diversion Dam was built. This dam stretches across the famous Colorado River. The reservoir is located where Imperial County, California, meets Yuma County, Arizona.
This important body of water is part of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. It helps provide water for farming and wildlife. The reservoir is about 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Yuma, Arizona.
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How Imperial Reservoir Gets Its Water
The Imperial Reservoir gets most of its water from special areas called watersheds. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river, lake, or reservoir.
Dry Washes and Rivers
The main water sources for Imperial Reservoir are "dry washes." A dry wash is a riverbed that usually has no water. It only fills up after heavy rain. The Bill Williams River in western Arizona is another important water source. It flows into the Colorado River upstream from the reservoir.
Upstream Water Sources
Further upstream on the Colorado River, the Havasu-Mojave Lakes Watershed also feeds the Imperial Reservoir. This watershed includes water from Lake Havasu.
Washes in Arizona
Two dry washes in western Arizona, the Bouse and Tyson Washes, try to reach the reservoir. They are south of the Bill Williams River. These washes usually stop at the edge of the Colorado River Indian Reservation. They only reach the Colorado River itself during very big floods.
California's Short Washes
From the California side, there are no long washes that flow into the reservoir. The desert climate in this area is very dry. This means any washes from California are short and do not carry much water.
