Smith Reservoir (Costilla County, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smith Reservoir |
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Looking across the reservoir towards Blanca Peak
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 Smith Reservoir
Location in Colorado
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| Location | Costilla County, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37°23′34″N 105°31′50″W / 37.39278°N 105.53056°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Trinchera Creek Sangre de Cristo Creek Ute Creek and several other smaller creeks |
| Primary outflows | Trinchera Creek |
| Managing agency | Trinchera Irrigation Company |
| Designation | Smith Reservoir State Wildlife Area |
| Built | 1914 |
| Water volume | 14,058 acre⋅ft (17,340,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 7,716 ft (2,352 m) |
| Frozen | Freezes in winter |
Smith Reservoir is a large lake in Costilla County, Colorado. It is located in the beautiful San Luis Valley, just south of the town of Blanca. A company called Trinchera Irrigation Company owns and manages this important body of water.
Contents
Building the Reservoir
Smith Reservoir was created by building a dam. This dam helps to store a lot of water.
The Smith Dam
The dam that holds back the water is called Smith Dam. It is a type of dam known as a rockfill dam. Workers finished building the dam in 1914. It can hold about 14,058 acre-feet of water. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep.
Water Sources
The reservoir gets its water from several creeks. The main creek flowing into it is Trinchera Creek. Another important creek is Sangre de Cristo Creek. Before the dam was built, Sangre de Cristo Creek joined Trinchera Creek right where the reservoir is now. Several other smaller creeks also add water to the reservoir.
Smith Reservoir State Wildlife Area
The lake and the land around it are part of a special area. It is called the Smith Reservoir State Wildlife Area. This area is protected and managed for wildlife.
Fun Activities at the Reservoir
The State Wildlife Area offers many outdoor activities. You can go fishing for trout in the lake. It is also a popular spot for hunting waterfowl, like ducks and geese. Camping is another fun activity you can do here. It is a great place to enjoy nature and see local wildlife.
