Twin Lakes Dam facts for kids
The Twin Lakes Dam is a large dam located in Lake County, Colorado. It is about 13 miles south of the town of Leadville. This dam helps manage water resources in Colorado.
The dam was built in 1978. It is an "earthen dam," meaning it is made mostly of compacted earth. It stands 53 feet tall and stretches 3,150 feet across. The United States Bureau of Reclamation built and operates this dam.
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What is the Twin Lakes Dam For?
The Twin Lakes Dam is part of a bigger plan called the "Fryingpan-Arkansas Project." This project moves water from one side of Colorado to the other. Colorado has a natural barrier called the Continental Divide. Water on the west side of this divide flows towards the Pacific Ocean. Water on the east side flows towards the Atlantic.
Moving Water Across Colorado
The eastern part of Colorado is drier and has more people. So, the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project helps move water from the wetter western side to the eastern side. The Twin Lakes Dam plays an important role in this system. It helps store and control this water.
About Twin Lakes Reservoir
The dam creates a large body of water called Twin Lakes. This reservoir was made by making a natural glacial lake much bigger. It covers a huge area of 2,700 acres. This is like having many football fields filled with water! It can hold a lot of water, up to 141,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land one foot deep.
Fun Things to Do at Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes is a popular spot for outdoor activities. Many people enjoy boating on the clear waters. Fishing is also a favorite pastime, especially for trout. There are five campgrounds run by the Forest Service nearby. These include Dexter, Lakeview, Parry Peak, Twin Peaks, and White Star. They offer great places for families and friends to camp and enjoy nature.
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