Moon Lake (Utah)

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Moon Lake
Moon Lake Dam 1930s - Social 1.jpg
Moon Lake Dam, 1938
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Moon Lake
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Moon Lake
Location Duchesne County, Utah
Coordinates 40°33′45″N110°29′23″W / 40.562447°N 110.489606°W / 40.562447; -110.489606
Type Reservoir
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface elevation8,087 ft (2,465 m) [1]
Website Moon Lake Campground

Moon Lake is a high mountain reservoir on the south slope of the High Uintas in Duchesne County, Utah. Recreation management is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, as the lake is part of the Ashley National Forest.

Contents

In 1938, the United States Bureau of Reclamation completed the earthen Moon Lake Dam on the Lake Fork River to expand the size of the existing natural lake for irrigation. The dam has a height of 98 feet, and the expanded reservoir a capacity of 49,500 acre-feet. [2] [3]

Climate

Climate data for Moon Lake, Utah, 1991–2020 normals: 8125ft (2477m)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)30.9
(−0.6)		34.1
(1.2)		40.6
(4.8)		49.1
(9.5)		58.6
(14.8)		69.5
(20.8)		77.3
(25.2)		77.5
(25.3)		67.5
(19.7)		55.5
(13.1)		40.1
(4.5)		30.6
(−0.8)		52.6
(11.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)18.9
(−7.3)		23.1
(−4.9)		29.2
(−1.6)		36.3
(2.4)		46.1
(7.8)		54.6
(12.6)		62.9
(17.2)		63.5
(17.5)		54.1
(12.3)		43.3
(6.3)		31.0
(−0.6)		21.1
(−6.1)		40.3
(4.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)6.9
(−13.9)		12.0
(−11.1)		17.8
(−7.9)		23.5
(−4.7)		33.5
(0.8)		39.7
(4.3)		48.4
(9.1)		49.4
(9.7)		40.7
(4.8)		31.1
(−0.5)		21.9
(−5.6)		11.5
(−11.4)		28.0
(−2.2)
Source: NOAA [4]

Lakefork #1 is a SNOTEL weather station above Moon Lake, near the peak of Lake Fork Mountain, at an elevation of 10415 feet (3174 m).

Climate data for Lakefork #1, Utah, 2006–2020 normals: 10415ft (3174m)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)56
(13)		54
(12)		57
(14)		62
(17)		66
(19)		75
(24)		75
(24)		76
(24)		75
(24)		66
(19)		57
(14)		54
(12)		76
(24)
Mean maximum °F (°C)49.0
(9.4)		47.1
(8.4)		50.3
(10.2)		55.8
(13.2)		61.4
(16.3)		69.8
(21.0)		72.9
(22.7)		70.9
(21.6)		67.7
(19.8)		58.8
(14.9)		53.2
(11.8)		47.8
(8.8)		73.0
(22.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)33.9
(1.1)		32.7
(0.4)		38.5
(3.6)		42.8
(6.0)		49.6
(9.8)		60.5
(15.8)		66.7
(19.3)		64.5
(18.1)		57.5
(14.2)		46.8
(8.2)		38.9
(3.8)		31.5
(−0.3)		47.0
(8.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)18.9
(−7.3)		17.8
(−7.9)		23.7
(−4.6)		29.2
(−1.6)		37.3
(2.9)		47.0
(8.3)		53.1
(11.7)		50.9
(10.5)		44.4
(6.9)		34.6
(1.4)		25.6
(−3.6)		17.1
(−8.3)		33.3
(0.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)3.8
(−15.7)		2.8
(−16.2)		8.8
(−12.9)		15.6
(−9.1)		25.0
(−3.9)		33.4
(0.8)		39.5
(4.2)		37.4
(3.0)		31.3
(−0.4)		22.4
(−5.3)		12.2
(−11.0)		2.8
(−16.2)		19.6
(−6.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)−16.8
(−27.1)		−17.8
(−27.7)		−11.2
(−24.0)		−3.1
(−19.5)		9.8
(−12.3)		23.8
(−4.6)		32.0
(0.0)		29.8
(−1.2)		20.1
(−6.6)		4.6
(−15.2)		−9.8
(−23.2)		−19.4
(−28.6)		−22.9
(−30.5)
Record low °F (°C)−30
(−34)		−27
(−33)		−16
(−27)		−13
(−25)		−2
(−19)		16
(−9)		28
(−2)		24
(−4)		15
(−9)		−10
(−23)		−23
(−31)		−30
(−34)		−30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.17
(55)		2.34
(59)		2.05
(52)		2.34
(59)		2.13
(54)		1.40
(36)		1.91
(49)		2.28
(58)		2.50
(64)		2.42
(61)		2.13
(54)		2.36
(60)		26.03
(661)
Source 1: XMACIS2 [5]
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation) [6]

Folklore

The Moon Lake Monster, also known as "Moonie," is described as a black, bumpy creature resembling a log with a fin. Witnesses have reported sightings, including an account of a large object following a boat, with water moving over what appeared to be scales. [7]

Another story involves the ghost of a young girl said to have drowned in the lake. Witnesses describe her as appearing wet, with blue lips, before disappearing when approached. Some have also reported hearing sounds of crying or splashing near the lake. [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Moon Lake (Utah)
  2. ↑ "Moon Lake Project". www.usbr.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ Redmond, Zachary. "Moon Lake Project". US Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Moon Lake, Utah 1991-2020 Monthly Normals" . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Lakefork #1, Utah 1991-2020 Monthly Normals" . Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Baggerly, Kayla (October 30, 2024). "Utah's most haunted: Moon Lake's ghost girl and the legend of Moonie". ABC4. KTVX. Retrieved January 23, 2025.


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