Williams Fork Reservoir

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Williams Fork Reservoir
Williams Fork Reservoir.JPG
The reservoir in 2016.
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Williams Fork Reservoir
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Williams Fork Reservoir
Location Grand County, Colorado,
United States
Coordinates 40°00′55″N106°12′37″W / 40.01528°N 106.21028°W / 40.01528; -106.21028
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Williams Fork of the Colorado River
Primary outflows Williams Fork of the Colorado River
Basin  countries United States
Surface area1,860 acres (750 ha)
Water volume97,000 acre⋅ft (120,000,000 m3)
Surface elevation7,811 ft (2,381 m)

Williams Fork Reservoir, located near the town of Parshall in Grand County, Colorado, is owned and operated by Denver Water. The reservoir impounds the Williams Fork of the Colorado River.

Contents

Geography

When the reservoir is full, its elevation is 7,811 feet (2,381 m). With a 15.8 miles (25.4 km) shoreline, the reservoir's surface area is 1,860 acres (750 ha). [1]

Williams Fork Dam and Power Plant

The Williams Fork Dam and Power Plant, completed in 1938 and expanded in 1959, [2] provides electricity and water to the Western Slope or Denver metropolitan area in Colorado. It's a concrete dam, 217 feet (66 m) high and with a length of 600 feet (180 m) at its crest. The reservoir impounds about 97,000 acre-feet (120,000,000 m3) of water (one acre foot=325,851 gallons), and the power plant contains a 3,158-kilowatt generator. [1]

Recreactional Activities

Water based activities include motor boating, fishing, ice fishing and wind surfing. The lake is stocked for fishing by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Tent, trailer and recreational vehicle (RV) camping and picnic sites are available. [1]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Williams Fork Reservoir. Archived 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Denver Water. 2011. Retrieved 10-4-2011.
  2. Limerick, Patricia Nelson; Hanson, Jason L. (2012). A Ditch in Time : The City, the West, and Water. Golden, Cololorado: Fulcrum Publishing. p. 152. ISBN   978-1-55591-366-3 . Retrieved 7 May 2024.