Geist Reservoir
| Geist Reservoir | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lawrence, Indiana |
| Coordinates | 39°55′37″N 85°57′36″W / 39.927°N 85.96°WCoordinates: 39°55′37″N 85°57′36″W / 39.927°N 85.96°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Fall Creek |
| Primary outflows | Fall Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,890 acres (7.6 km2) |
| Water volume | 6,100,000,000 US gal (0.023 km3) |
Geist Reservoir is a reservoir in Lawrence, Indiana, U.S., constructed in 1943 by damming Fall Creek to provide water for Indianapolis. Upon completion, Geist Reservoir was the second largest man made lake in Indiana providing approximately seven billion gallons of water.
[edit] History
Geist Reservoir was named after Clarence Geist, a former owner of the Indianapolis Water Company who foresaw a deficit in Indianapolis's water supply, and envisioned Geist Reservoir to preemptively address the problem – but not without a casualty. Planning for the reservoir began as early as 1913, when hydraulic engineers estimated that White River and Fall Creek would not provide enough water for the increasing needs of Indianapolis. Geist gradually bought some 5,000 acres (20 km2) in Fall Creek Valley in the 1920s and 1930s, including the small town of Germantown, which today lies at the bottom of the reservoir.
Although controversial, the reservoir was completed in 1943, five years after Clarence Geist's death. In the 1960s further controversy arose over plans for commercial and residential development in the area around the lake. A proposal in the 1970s to triple the size of the reservoir was defeated, and a housing boom began in the lake area. In recent years the Geist area has experienced rapid growth. The area is noted for its unique topography and the reservoir.
[edit] Description
The dam which creates Geist Reservoir is located at the lake's southern end. Fed by Fall Creek on the north, the lake overflow is directed into the creek again at the south. The reservoir is mostly rather shallow (ten feet or less). The area has undergone rapid development, many high-valued homes now line the reservoir's waterfront and within some of the most affluent ZIP codes in Indianapolis.
Geist Reservoir is 1,900 acres (769 ha) and spans three counties in Indiana (Marion, Hamilton, and Hancock), four voting precincts, four school districts (Lawrence, Hamilton Southeastern, and Mt. Vernon), and features five different ZIP codes (46037, 46256, 46236, 46040, 46055).
[edit] External links
- "North Magazine: The Good Life in Carmel & Fishers". North Magazine. http://indynorthmag.com/.
- "Geist Reservoir". Holy Cross Lutheran Church. 2007. http://www.hclc.info/Community/Geist_Reservoir/geist_reservoir.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
- "History of Geist Reservoir and Germantown". Log Cabin Animal Hospital at Geist. Archived from the original on 2007-08-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20070809044828/http://www.logcabinvet.com/history/history.php. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- "Fall Creek Watershed and Geist Reservoir". Center for Earth and Environmental Science at Indiana University ~ Purdue University, Indianapolis. http://www.cees.iupui.edu/Research/Water_Resources/CIWRP/Publications/Reports/Watersheds-2003/Fall_Creek/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
