Upper Stillwater Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Upper Stillwater Reservoir |
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Looking North East towards Upper Still Water dam
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 Upper Stillwater Reservoir
Location in Utah
Upper Stillwater Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Duchesne County, Utah, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°33′35″N 110°41′53″W / 40.55972°N 110.69806°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Rock Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2,134 m (7,001 ft) |
| Max. width | 610 m (2,000 ft) |
| Average depth | 31.6 m (104 ft) |
| Max. depth | 51 m (167 ft) |
| Water volume | 40.857 million cubic metres (33,123 acre⋅ft) |
| Shore length1 | 5,486 m (17,999 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 2,492 m (8,176 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Upper Stillwater Reservoir is a big lake high up in the Uinta Mountains in Duchesne County, Utah. It's a special kind of lake called a reservoir, which means it was built by people. This reservoir is an important part of the Central Utah Project, which helps manage water for many communities.
The reservoir was created in 1987. This happened when the Upper Stillwater Dam was built. The dam is made of concrete and is known as a gravity dam. Its unique design, using a method called rolled concrete dam, is quite interesting to engineers.
The reservoir sits at an elevation of 8,176 feet (about 2,492 meters) above sea level. Its average depth is about 103.5 feet (31.6 meters). You can find different types of fish here, including rainbow, brown, and brook trout.
The water that fills the reservoir comes mostly from the Uinta Mountains. The highest point in this area, called the watershed, is Ostler Peak, which is 12,717 feet high. A lot of water from this reservoir is sent to the Wasatch Front area each year. This water is mainly used for watering crops.
Fun Activities at Upper Stillwater
The area around Upper Stillwater Reservoir is a great place for outdoor fun! There's one main campground called Rock Creek. The reservoir is also a popular starting point for trails leading into the High Uintas Wilderness Area. This wilderness boundary is just one mile north of the dam.
The U.S. Forest Service, specifically the Ashley National Forest, manages all the fun activities here. The main season for recreation is from June through September. It gets quite busy on holidays and weekends.
You can enjoy many activities at the reservoir, such as:
- Boating
- Swimming
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnics
- Driving recreational vehicles
- Watching wildlife
- Winter sports when it's cold enough
The Amazing Annual Spill
The Upper Stillwater Dam has a special design with a steep, stepped spillway. Sometimes, after a lot of snow or when the snow melts very quickly, the reservoir fills up completely. When this happens, the water reaches the spillway and flows over it.
This creates an amazing sight: a huge curtain of falling water! It's about 600 feet wide and 200 feet tall. This event usually lasts for a few days. It often attracts many tourists and even gets attention from the news. It's a truly spectacular natural show!
