Lake Chesdin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Chesdin |
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 Lake Chesdin
Location in Virginia
Lake Chesdin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chesterfield / Dinwiddie / Amelia counties, Virginia, US |
| Coordinates | 37°13′14″N 77°31′30″W / 37.22056°N 77.52500°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 3,100 acres (13 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 108 ft (33 m) |
Lake Chesdin, also called Chesdin Reservoir, is a lake in south-central Virginia, USA. It sits on the edge of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, and Amelia counties. This lake is super important because it gives water and power to nearby towns. It's also a favorite spot for fishing! You can catch many types of fish here, like largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, striped bass, channel catfish, gizzard shad, and white perch.
Contents
Where is Lake Chesdin?
Lake Chesdin and its dam are located in the Appomattox River watershed. This is where Chesterfield, Amelia, and Dinwiddie counties meet. The border between Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties cuts the dam and the lake almost in half. The top of the dam is about 840 feet long. The area that drains water into the reservoir is about 1,333 square miles.
How Lake Chesdin Was Made
Lake Chesdin was created in 1968. This happened when the George F. Brasfield Dam was built on the Appomattox River. The lake was made to provide water to several places. These include Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield counties. It also supplies water to the cities of Colonial Heights and Petersburg.
In 1960, these five local governments worked together. They created the Appomattox River Water Authority (ARWA). This group helped make the dam project happen. Once the dam was finished in 1967, the river's water filled up the area behind it. This is how Lake Chesdin was formed.
Why Lake Chesdin is Important
The Appomattox River Water Authority (ARWA) manages the dam. Lake Chesdin can hold about 9.66 billion gallons of water. It can safely provide about 41.3 million gallons of water every day. The city of Petersburg, Virginia buys its water from ARWA.
Since the lake was built in the 1960s, dirt and sand have built up on its bottom. This has caused the lake to hold about 1.5 billion gallons less water. The dam also has a special power plant. This plant makes electricity when a lot of water flows over the dam's spillway.
Fishing in Lake Chesdin
Lake Chesdin is a fantastic place for fishing. It's known for having many different kinds of fish.
Catching Largemouth Bass
Lake Chesdin is famous for its largemouth bass. Many of these fish are over 20 inches long. It's a great spot if you want to catch a big one!
Crappie Fishing
You can find both types of crappie that live in Virginia here. The number of crappie has gone down a bit. This is because they compete for food with white perch. Still, some crappie caught here are over 10 inches long. The biggest crappie ever caught in the lake weighed 4 pounds. David Collins caught it on April 19, 2001.
Bluegill in the Lake
Bluegill are also common in Lake Chesdin. However, because other fish eat the same food, not many bluegill grow larger than 7 inches.
Walleye You Can Find
Even though walleye are not often added to the lake, you can still find some big ones. Some walleye caught here weigh 7 pounds or more!
Striped Bass Fun
One of the most exciting fish in Lake Chesdin is the striped bass. Some of these fish can weigh up to 25 pounds! New striped bass are regularly added to the lake.
Channel Catfish Abundance
Lake Chesdin has a large number of channel catfish. You can find many of these catfish throughout the lake. They usually weigh between 2 and 6 pounds.
White Perch Everywhere
There are tons of white perch in Lake Chesdin. They are one of the most common fish in the lake. Many white perch can grow up to 10 inches long.
