Windy Gap Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Windy Gap Reservoir |
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The reservoir and dam in 2016.
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 Windy Gap Reservoir
Location in Colorado
Windy Gap Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grand County, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 40°06′18″N 105°58′53″W / 40.10500°N 105.98139°W |
| Primary inflows | Colorado River |
| Primary outflows | Colorado River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District |
| Water volume | 445 acre⋅ft (549,000 m3) |
Windy Gap Reservoir is a lake in Grand County, Colorado. It is close to the town of Granby. The reservoir is managed by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
Water flows into and out of the reservoir from the Colorado River. The Fraser River joins the Colorado River about a mile upstream. A special wall called a diversion dam creates the reservoir. This dam helps to hold back water.
A pumping station near the reservoir sends water to Lake Granby. Lake Granby is about six miles away. From there, the water is pumped over the mountains to the Front Range. The Front Range is a part of the Rocky Mountains where many people live.
This project can move about 48,000 acre-feet of water each year. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep. This is a lot of water! Most of this water is moved during the snowmelt season. This season usually runs from April to July when snow in the mountains melts.
Exploring the Windy Gap Area
Wildlife Viewing at the Reservoir
The Windy Gap Watchable Wildlife Area is a great place to see animals. It is located on the north side of the reservoir. This area has parking spots and picnic tables. You can enjoy nature and watch for different kinds of wildlife here.
