Sanchez Reservoir

Reservoir in Costilla County, Colorado
37°05′02″N 105°24′52″W / 37.08389°N 105.41444°W / 37.08389; -105.41444TypereservoirPrimary inflowsVentero Creek
Sanchez CanalBasin countriesUnited StatesManaging agencySanchez Ditch and Reservoir CompanyDesignationSanchez Reservoir State Wildlife AreaBuilt1912 (1912)First flooded1912 (1912)Surface area3,145 acres (1,273 hectares)Water volume103,000 acre-feet (127,000,000 cubic meters)Surface elevation2,518 meters (8,261 feet) [1]

Sanchez Reservoir lies in far southcentral Colorado, west of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Costilla County. Its inflows include Ventero Creek and the Sanchez Canal, a diversion canal that takes water from Culebra Creek and two other creeks.[2]

Dam

The reservoir's earthen dam was built in 1912. Because the dam leaks a lot and because of ongoing drought in the region, the reservoir never really reaches its full capacity.[3]

Fishing

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages fishing at the reservoir, which forms the Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area. However, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a "Fish consumption advisory," warning of unsafe mercury levels in northern pike and walleye caught in the lake.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Sanchez Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "Total maximum daily load for Mercury in Sanchez Reservoir, Colorado". Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  3. ^ "Evidence in Support of a Change in Aquatic Life Use Sub-Classification" (PDF). Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Water Quality Control Division. 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  4. ^ "Sanchez Reservoir fish consumption advisory" (PDF). Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  • Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area map and information


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