Lake Nighthorse

Lake Nighthorse is a reservoir created by the 270 feet (82 m) high Ridges Basin Dam[1] southwest of Durango in La Plata County Colorado. As part of the Animas-La Plata Water Project, Lake Nighthorse provides water storage for tribal and water right claim-holders along the Animas River.

Lake Nighthorse
The lake viewed from the overlook on County Road 210.
Lake Nighthorse
Lake Nighthorse
LocationColorado
Coordinates37°13′29.99″N 107°54′53.16″W
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsDurango Pumping Plant (Animas River)
Primary outflowsBasin Creek (Outflow returns to the Animas River)
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area1,490 acres (600 ha)[1]
Water volume120,000 acre feet (150,000,000 m3)[2]

History

First authorized by the U.S. Congress on September 30, 1968 (Public Law 90-537),[3] the Animas-La Plata Water Project, as it came to be known, experienced a few decades of delays due in part to political concerns, farming claims, environmental challenges, cost overruns and government funding issues. A breakthrough to the delays came with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments in December 2000 (Public Law 106-554).[4]

The Bureau of Reclamation began construction in 2003, with the reservoir filling to capacity on June 29, 2011 at a total cost of $500 million. Lake Nighthorse is named in honor of former United States Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo.[5][6]

Lake Nighthorse covers Sacred Ridge, a former multiple habitation archaeological site.

Recreation and marinas

The lake is open as of April 1, 2018 for recreation, fishing and boating. It has been stocked with kokanee salmon, rainbow trout and brown trout.

References
  1. "Project Information". usbr.gov. Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  2. "US Bureau of Reclamation Project Status". US Department of the Interior. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  3. "Colorado River Basin Project Act" (PDF). usbr.gov. Bureau of Reclamation. 1968. pp. 11–14. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  4. "Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments" (PDF). gpo.gov. U.S. Government Printing Office. 21 December 2000. pp. 258–266. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  5. "Lake Nighthorse reaches capacity". Durango Herald. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  6. "Project Overview". Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
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