Crawford Dam
Crawford State Park and Reservoir
Crawford State Park and Reservoir
Crawford Dam is located in the United States
Crawford Dam
Location of Crawford Dam in the United States
Crawford Dam is located in Colorado
Crawford Dam
Crawford Dam (Colorado)
CountryUnited States
LocationDelta County, Colorado
Coordinates38°41′24″N 107°36′25″W / 38.69004°N 107.60685°W / 38.69004; -107.60685
Purposeirrigation, flood control
StatusOperational
Opening date1962
Built byUnited States Bureau of Reclamation
Owner(s)United States Bureau of Reclamation
Operator(s)Crawford Water Conservancy District
Dam and spillways
Type of damearthen
ImpoundsIron Creek
Height (foundation)162 ft (49 m)
Length580 ft (180 m)
Reservoir
CreatesCrawford Reservoir
Total capacity14,395 acre⋅ft (17,756,000 m3)
Surface area406 acres (164 ha)
Normal elevation1,999 m (6,558 ft) [1]

Crawford Dam (National ID # CO00556) impounds water for Crawford Reservoir in Delta County, Colorado about a mile south of the town of Crawford. The earthen dam was completed in 1962 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation with a height of 162 feet (49 m) and 580 feet (180 m) long at its crest.[2] It impounds Iron Creek for irrigation flood control, one element of the Smith Fork Project. The dam is owned by the Bureau and operated by the local Crawford Water Conservancy District. When full, Crawford Reservoir has a water surface area of 406 acres (164 ha), about 7 miles (11 km) of shoreline, and a total capacity of 14,395 acre-feet (17,756,000 m3).[3] The main purpose of the facility is to provide farm irrigation, and the size of Crawford Reservoir changes significantly with the seasons. In most years, the lake is full in late Spring and early Summer, but by early Fall, the water level drops enough to leave boat launches high and dry. The low water pool lasts through the Winter until Spring runoff begins to fill the water supply once again.
The reservoir is encompassed within Crawford State Park with Park Headquarters located on a peninsula along the northeastern shore. Recreation opportunities include fishing (for yellow perch, northern pike, black crappie, largemouth bass, trout, channel catfish, etc.), boating, camping on 66 campsites, picnicking, swimming, and hiking.[4]

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Crawford Dam
  2. "Dam details - Crawford Dam - Bureau of Reclamation". Archived from the original on 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  3. "Project details - Smith Fork Project - Bureau of Reclamation". Archived from the original on 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  4. "Crawford Reservoir, Colorado".


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