Willow Creek Dam (Colorado) facts for kids
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The Willow Creek Dam is a large structure in Grand County, Colorado. It helps manage water and create electricity for people in the area. This dam is an important part of a bigger project called the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.
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What is the Willow Creek Dam?
The Willow Creek Dam is a special type of dam called an earthen dam. This means it's built mostly from natural materials like earth, rock, and clay. It stands about 127 feet (39 m) tall and stretches for 1,100 feet (340 m) across the land.
Building the Dam
The dam was built between 1951 and 1953. The United States Bureau of Reclamation constructed it. This government agency builds and manages water projects. The dam's main jobs are to store water for farms and to make clean electricity.
Who Manages the Dam?
Even though the Bureau of Reclamation built the dam, a local group helps run it. This group is called the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. They work together to make sure the dam helps the community.
Willow Creek Reservoir
The dam holds back the water from Willow Creek. This creates a lake called the Willow Creek Reservoir. This reservoir is a great place for outdoor fun!
Fun at the Reservoir
The Willow Creek Reservoir covers about 303 acres (123 ha) of water. It can hold a lot of water, up to 11,177 acre-feet (13,787,000 m3). People love to visit the reservoir for different activities:
- Camping: You can set up a tent and enjoy nature.
- Fishing: The reservoir is home to different kinds of fish. You might catch brown trout, rainbow trout, or salmon.
