Pineview Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pineview Dam |
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Pineview Dam, 1987
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| Location | Weber County, Utah United States |
| Coordinates | 41°15′16″N 111°50′32″W / 41.2544°N 111.8421°W |
| Construction began | September 29, 1934 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Ogden Canyon |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Pineview Reservoir |
Pineview Dam is a large dam located in Ogden Canyon, about 7 miles (11 km) east of Ogden, Utah, United States. It helps manage water for the area and provides a fun place for outdoor activities.
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What is Pineview Dam?
Pineview Dam is built at the eastern end of Ogden Canyon. This is where three parts of the Ogden River meet: the north, south, and center forks. The dam creates a large lake called Pineview Reservoir.
Several roads go near or over the dam, including State Route 158 and State Route 39.
The dam was built to provide a steady supply of water for farming. It helps water over 25,000 acres (100 km2) of land between the Wasatch Range mountains and the Great Salt Lake. It's part of a bigger plan called the Ogden River Project. This project also included canals and other ways to deliver water to farms.
How Pineview Dam Was Built
Before 1900, the Ogden River watered about 3,000 acres (12 km2) of land. But as more water was used, there wasn't enough for farms in the late summer. So, in 1921, experts started studying the river to find a solution.
They decided a large water storage area was needed. The Pineview site was chosen for a reservoir that could hold 30,000 acre-foot (37,000,000 m3) of water.
President Roosevelt gave permission for the Ogden River Project on November 16, 1935. Money for the project had started coming in as early as 1933. Construction of the dam began on September 29, 1934. The dam and a main canal were finished in June 1937. Other canals were built a few years later.
The dam is made of earth, rock, and other materials. It's called a "zone earthfill dam." When it was first built, it was 103 feet (31 m) tall and could hold 44,175 acre-foot (54,489,000 m3) of water. Later, the dam was made taller, reaching 137 feet (42 m). This made the reservoir much bigger, able to hold 110,150 acre-feet (135,870,000 m3) of water.
The dam has a special overflow system that lets water out safely when the reservoir is too full. This system can release a lot of water very quickly, up to 10,000 cubic feet per second (280 m3/s).
Benefits of Pineview Dam
Pineview Dam provides many important benefits to the area.
Water for Farms
With its current size, Pineview Reservoir can water about 24,801 acres (100.37 km2) of farmland. This means farmers have enough water to grow many different kinds of crops.
Fun Activities
The reservoir is also a popular spot for recreation. Many people visit each year to enjoy the outdoors. Some popular activities include:
- Camping
- Boating
- Water-skiing
- Using personal watercraft
- Fishing for trout, bass, crappie, and wall-eyed pike
Nearly one million people visited the area in 1996!
Flood Control
The dam also helps prevent floods. It has saved a lot of money by controlling water during heavy rains or snowmelt. Between 1950 and 1999, it prevented an estimated ten million dollars in flood damage. The dam can release water into the Ogden River at a controlled rate, which is very helpful when there's a lot of water.
Making Electricity
Pineview Dam also helps make clean energy! Since 1991, it has had a system that uses the flowing water to create hydroelectric power. This system uses a special turbine to generate 1,800 kilowatts of electricity for the power grid.
Home to Unique Fish
Pineview Reservoir is one of only three lakes in Utah that has a special fish called the tiger muskie. These fish are a mix of two different types of fish and cannot have babies. They have a long, torpedo-shaped body with stripes like a tiger. They also have many sharp teeth. Tiger muskies can grow very large, sometimes up to 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m) long and weighing as much as 40 pounds (18 kg)!
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. UT-51, "Ogden Canyon Conduit, Ogden, Weber County, UT", 29 photos, 32 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
