Nelson Reservoir, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nelson Reservoir |
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 Nelson Reservoir
Location in Arizona
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| Location | Apache County, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34°3′21.86″N 109°11′25.63″W / 34.0560722°N 109.1904528°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Average depth | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Surface elevation | 7,410 ft (2,260 m) |
Nelson Reservoir is a cool lake found in Apache County, Arizona. It's located between the towns of Springerville and Alpine. This long, narrow lake stretches for almost a mile, following the path of Nutrioso Creek. It's a favorite spot for fishing, especially because some fish grow quite big here!
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Where is Nelson Reservoir?
Nelson Reservoir sits high up at about 7,412 feet (2,259 m) above sea level. It's close to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The people who manage the forest also take care of the lake's facilities.
The lake is south of a place called Correjo Crossing. This crossing is a pass through a canyon wall. Long ago, people lived and used this spot.
What's Nelson Reservoir Like?
Nelson Reservoir is fed by Nutrioso Creek. The lake covers about 90 acres (36 ha) of water. It can be as deep as 24 feet (7.3 m) in some spots. On average, it's about 15 feet (4.6 m) deep.
Every spring, after the lake fills up, workers add up to 20,000 rainbow trout. These fish are big enough to catch right away! They keep adding fish until Labor Day. Sometimes, if the water gets too warm or has too many plants, they might stop stocking fish earlier.
As summer goes on, you might see lots of algae (tiny water plants) or weeds growing in the lake. The lake is also home to native bluehead suckers. You might also find black crappie and green sunfish here. These fish were brought to the lake by accident. In the past, the lake had other types of trout, like brown, cutthroat, and brook trout, but they are not found there anymore.
History of Nelson Reservoir
Nelson Reservoir is named after Edmond Nelson. He owned the land around the lake in 1918. But he had been fishing there even earlier, back in 1891!
Edmond Nelson and his family started building the reservoir in February 1891. They worked on it for many years. Once it was finished, the reservoir helped provide water to local farms. That was its main purpose when it was first built.
Fish You Can Catch
Here are some of the fish species you might find in Nelson Reservoir:
