Dillon Reservoir , sometimes referred to as Lake Dillon , is a fresh water reservoir located in Summit County, south of I-70 and bordered by the towns of Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon. It is a reservoir for the city of Denver, and its waters are under the control of Denver Water. Popular ski towns are in close proximity to the reservoir, including Copper Mountain, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Breckenridge.
History
Dillon Reservoir was originally a naturally formed lake that remained unnoticed until the mid 1800s, when gold was discovered in the area. Upon this discovery, the trade post town of Dillon was formed. The town of Dillon was on the bank of the blue river and was the most populous area in Summit County. In the late 1800s, ski resorts were becoming popular, outweighing the mines in the economy of the area; the town lost many residents to them. The lake became a target for expansion by the city of Denver, who deemed it necessary to have a water reserve in the high country.
The dam was constructed in 1961, enlarging the small finger lake into the massive reservoir it is today. The original town of Dillon was left to be flooded over and residents were forced to move. Underneath the west side of the lake, the original town is still visible. The original road leading to the old town, seen easily from both the dam road and Swan Mountain Road, is still used as a boat ramp.
Both Dillon and Frisco have marinas on the reservoir.
Tourism
During ski season, thousands of people flock to the Dillon Reservoir area. Dillon Reservoir is close to four ski-resorts. Arapahoe Basin is medium sized resort that is approximately ten miles from the lake. Keystone Ski Resort is a large tourist destination that is located approximately five miles away. Breckenridge, which is one of the largest ski resorts in Colorado, is located approximately seven miles from Dillon Reservoir. Copper Mountain is located approximately six miles from Dillon Reservoir. These resorts stay open all year round.
The reservoir is also a center of attraction for the area. During the winter months, ice fishing and snowmobiling are common activities. For the warmer months, the Dillon Lake marina is open and hundreds of sailboats can be seen docked or sailing. Dillon Reservoir marina hosts many weekend racing regattas and also provides sailboats for rent. The Dillon Yacht Club is based out of the Marina and also hosts many sailing events. Dillon Reservoir is stocked every year with 50,000 rainbow trout by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Due to Dillon Reservoir’s close proximity to the towns of Dillon and Frisco, the lake has many lodging, camping, and RV sites.
Weather
Dillon averages around 250–300 inches of snow a year. It generally snows from late September to mid-May. There are nearly 300 days of sun during the year, and this keeps the area snow totals lower then the average amount of precipitation the area receives. Almost every day of the year, some sort of precipitation will fall from the sky, with July generally being the wettest month of the year. July is usually the warmest month of the year also with the average high around 73 degrees Fahrenheit. January is the coldest month of the year with the average high being around 31°F. The average low in July is 40°F, and the average low in January is 2°F.
Geography
Dillon Reservoir sits at an altitude of 9,017 ft. It is 2.748 meters above sea level. The lakes water volume is 250,000 acres and its shore length is approximately 26.8 miles. The Dillon Dam is 5,888 feet long and 231 feet wide. The average depth of the reservoir is 24.1 meters deep. It has a regulated water level and it has a catchment area of 852 km.
Security Issues
In 2008, residents of surrounding areas found Dillon Dam Road closed on numerous occasions for security reasons.
In January 2008, the Summit County Sheriff Dept. found two men videotaping a music video on the dam road, already closed at the time for weather purposes. As is protocol for possible threats involving dams, the FBI were asked to investigate the situation as well. The men were cleared of any suspicious activity though the dam remained closed for a short time afterward.
On July 8 of the same year, Denver Water closed the dam road indefinitely to all vehicular traffic excluding emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, inciting a lawsuit against the utility company by Summit County representatives. Despite having spent $10 million on increasing security measures for the dam since September 11, the utility felt the dam was still at risk of possible threats, especially to the town of Silverthorne, which lies north, and directly beneath, the dam.
The dam road was re-opened on July 25, but with strict stipulations imposed by Denver Water, including weight restrictions on vehicles, officers in security vehicles being placed on either end of the dam at any time during the day, and closing the road from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Emergency vehicles requiring the use of the road during the closed hours must lower the steel barricades on both ends to get through.
See also
- Dillon
- Frisco
References
- ^ "Dillon Dam Road closed after 'suspicious activity'". Rocky Mountain News. 2008-01-10 . http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/10/dillon-dam-road-closed-after-suspicious-activity/ . Retrieved 2009-10-11 .
- ^ a b "Compromise Reached, Dillon Dam Road Reopens". CBS Channel 4 News. 2008-07-26 . http://cbs4denver.com/local/dillon.dam.road.2.779985.html . Retrieved 2009-10-11 .
- ^ "Dillon Dam Road closed to cars". The Denver Post. 2008-07-09 . http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9821382 . Retrieved 2009-10-11 .
- ^ "After uproar, Dillon Dam road reopens". The Denver Post. 2008-07-25 . http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9997255 . Retrieved 2009-10-11 .
External links
- Dillon Marina.com - official site
- Water.Denver.CO.gov - Dillon Reservoir 1963
- FishExplorer.com - Current lake conditions and information
- Google video - A sunset cruise on Lake Dillon
- Lake Dillon Lake Dillon Fire Protection District
- Dillon Tourist Info - Dillon Tourist info
- Dillon Home Page
- Dillon Yacht Club
- Snow totals for area
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