Big Meadows Reservoir

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Big Meadows Reservoir
Big Meadows Reservoir.JPG
The reservoir in 2025
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Big Meadows Reservoir
The reservoir's location in Colorado
Location Mineral County, Colorado, U.S.
Coordinates 37°32′13.43″N106°48′15.55″W / 37.5370639°N 106.8043194°W / 37.5370639; -106.8043194
Type reservoir
Primary inflows South Fork Rio Grande
Spruce Creek
Black Creek
Primary outflows South Fork Rio Grande
Basin  countriesUnited States
Managing agency Colorado Parks and Wildlife
DesignationBig Meadows Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Built1968
Surface area117 acres (47 hectares)
Water volume3,356 acre-feet (4,140,000 cubic meters)
Surface elevation9,216 feet (2,809 meters)
FrozenFreezes in winter
References [1] [2]

Big Meadows Reservoir is in Mineral County, Colorado, U.S., southwest of South Fork and in the Rio Grande National Forest. The reservoir, which lies at an elevation of 9,216 feet (2,809 meters), was created to provide a fishing venue and is a Colorado state wildlife area. The reservoir is reached by taking Forest Service Road 410 for about two miles (3.2 km) off of U.S. Highway 160 on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass. [3]

Contents

Dams

The reservoir has two dams. A spillway is between the two dams, as is a rocky area that functions as a dam. A hiking trail goes over both dams, and a footbridge carries hikers over the spillway. The Big Meadows Main Dam, NID ID CO00764, is a 69-foot (21-meter) high earthen dam that can store up to 3,356 acre-feet (4,140,000 cubic meters) of water. It was built in 1968 and is 1,060 feet (320 meters) wide. [2] The Big Meadows - North Dike, NID ID CO02869, is a 15-foot (4.6-meter) high earthen dam. It was built in 1968 and is 300 feet (91 meters) wide. [4] Both dams and the reservoir are owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

State wildlife area

The lake makes up the Big Meadows Reservoir State Wildlife Area. Fishing is the wildlife area's chief activity. [3] The reservoir covers 117 surface acres (47 ha) and has a boat ramp. Anglers catch brook trout, rainbow trout, salmon, and German brown trout. [5] The United States Forest Service operates the Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area, which is adjacent to the reservoir. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Big Meadows Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. September 1, 1994. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Big Meadows - Main Dam". National Inventory of Dams. United States Army. December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Big Meadows SWA, Mineral County". Colorado Parks and Wildlife. n.d. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Big Meadows - North Dike". National Inventory of Dams. United States Army. December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Fishing". South Fork, Colorado. South Fork Visitor Center. 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area". Rio Grande National Forest. Del Norte, Colorado: United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. n.d. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
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