Rio Grande Dam
Rio Grande Dam is a dam in Hinsdale County, Colorado impounding the Rio Grande. Built between 1910 and 1914 by the San Luis Valley Irrigation District to store water for agriculture in the San Luis Valley, Rio Grande Dam is an earth and rock fill dam 111 ft (34 m) high and 550 ft (170 m) long.[1] The dam impounds the Rio Grande Reservoir, with a capacity of 52,000 acre⋅ft (64,000,000 m3).[2]
The dam and reservoir are situated at an elevation of 9,449 ft (2,880 m) about 20 mi (32 km) southwest of Creede, several miles below the headwaters of the Rio Grande.[3]
History
The need for a dam on the Rio Grande River was recognized in the early 20th century when the San Luis Valley was experiencing water shortages due to prolonged droughts. In 1903, the Rio Grande Water Conservation District was established to manage water resources in the valley. The district started planning for a dam on the Rio Grande River in 1906, and construction of the dam began in 1910.
The construction of the dam was a massive undertaking and involved the work of hundreds of men. The dam is made of concrete and is 133 feet high and 900 feet long. It has a storage capacity of 15,550 acre-feet of water.
The Rio Grande Dam was completed in 1913 and was hailed as a great engineering achievement. It was the first large-scale dam built in Colorado and was considered one of the most advanced dams of its time.[4]
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Rio Grande Dam is to provide irrigation water to the San Luis Valley. The water stored in the reservoir behind the dam is used to irrigate over 60,000 acres of farmland in the valley. The dam also provides water for municipal and industrial use in the area.[5]
Recreation
The Rio Grande Dam and reservoir are also popular recreational destinations. The reservoir provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. The surrounding area is home to several campgrounds, hiking trails, and scenic drives.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Rio Grande Dam and Reservoir Rehabilitation". Deere & Ault Consultants, Inc. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ^ Hildner, Matt (2011-08-20). "Rio Grande River basin: The San Luis Valley Irrigation District is looking for ways to fund reservoir repairs". Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ^ USGS Topo Maps for United States (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ^ https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/RioGrandeReservoir.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Ward, Frank A.; Michelsen, Ari M.; DeMouche, Leeann (2007-02-12). "Barriers to Water Conservation in the Rio Grande Basin1". JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 43 (1): 237–253. doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2007.00019.x. ISSN 1093-474X.
- ^ https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/recarea/?recid=28964&actid=29.
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