Lake Springfield (Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Springfield |
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 Lake Springfield
Location in Missouri
Lake Springfield
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 37°06′42″N 93°15′49″W / 37.11167°N 93.26361°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | James River |
| Primary outflows | James River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | City Utilities of Springfield |
| Surface area | 318 acres (129 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 1,142 feet (348 m) |
Lake Springfield is a large, man-made lake in Springfield, Missouri. It covers about 318 acres. This lake was built to help cool down the James River Power Plant. It was made by building a dam across the James River. Today, Lake Springfield is a favorite spot for fishing and other fun outdoor activities. It's one of three main fishing lakes in Springfield, along with Fellows Lake and Valley Water Mill Pond.
History of Lake Springfield
Lake Springfield was created in 1957. This happened when a dam was built on the James River. The city of Springfield bought the land before it was covered by water. It cost about $11.1 million to buy the land and build the dam. This cost also included building the first two parts of the power station.
The main reason for the lake was to cool the James River Power Plant. Water from the lake helped cool the big steam generators. Building the first two power plant units started in 1957. By 1970, three more units were added to the power plant.
The generators first used natural gas as fuel. Later, a federal rule made them switch to burning coal. In the 1990s, the Missouri Department of Conservation worked with City Utilities of Springfield. Together, they added a boat ramp, a fishing dock, and special fishing platforms.
The power plant generators were expected to last about 30 years. In 2015, plans were made to close the power plant. The first three generators had already been stopped to save money. The last working generator now burns natural gas again.
Fun Activities at Lake Springfield
Lake Springfield is a very popular place for fishing. Many different kinds of fish live here. You can find largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish.
Springfield City Utilities has a rule about boats on the lake. Motorboats can only have engines up to 6 horsepower. This is because the lake is not very deep. Larger boats would stir up too much mud from the bottom.
There is a nice waterfront park at the lake. At the park, you can rent kayaks to paddle around. There are also fishing docks and jetties. These are great spots to cast your line and try to catch some fish.
