Nelson Lake (Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nelson Lake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Nelson Lake
Location in Wisconsin
|
|
| Location | Sawyer County, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 46°05′11″N 91°29′39″W / 46.08639°N 91.49417°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Totagatic River |
| Primary outflows | Totagatic River |
| Surface area | 2,716 acres (1,099 ha) |
| Max. depth | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Surface elevation | 1,253 ft (382 m) |
Nelson Lake is a large, man-made lake, also known as a reservoir, located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. It was formed by building a dam across the Totagatic River. This lake is a popular spot for fishing and is an important home for many kinds of wildlife.
Contents
How Nelson Lake Was Created
A Big Idea for Conservation
The idea to create Nelson Lake began on January 9, 1934. Frank O. Nelson, who was a member of the Sawyer County Board, suggested building a dam. He was a strong supporter of protecting nature, which is called a "proponent for conservation."
His idea was to build a dam on the Totagatic River. This dam would create a large lake from the water that backed up behind it. This new lake would be a good place for fish to live. It would also provide a safe home and breeding area for all sorts of wildlife.
Getting Help from Government Programs
The plan was to use money from a program called the Civil Works Administration (CWA). This program helped people find jobs during the Great Depression. However, the CWA program ended before the project could really get going.
After the CWA, another program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA) took over. The WPA also helped people find jobs on public projects. They did a survey to plan out the dam project. By October 1935, about 40 men were working on the dam. These workers came from the Federal Transient Camp in Hayward.
Naming the Lake
Sadly, Frank O. Nelson passed away on November 15, 1935. He died before he could see the dam completely finished. After his death, the County Board decided to honor him. They passed a special resolution to name the new lake "Nelson Lake."
They named it after him because he had worked so hard to make the project happen. The board stated that "this project was primarily proposed and started through the untiring efforts of the late F.O. Nelson." His vision helped create this important lake for both people and nature.
