Black Lake is a reservoir at Vail Pass in Eagle County, Colorado. The reservoir collects and stores water for the Eagle River Water & Sanitation District. It lies at an elevation of over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) and sits alongside Interstate 70.
| Black Lake | |
|---|---|
| Black Lake #1 | |
.JPG) The reservoir in 2024 | |
  Black Lake The reservoir's location in Colorado | |
| Location | Eagle |
| Group | The Black Lakes |
| Coordinates | 39°32′23.36″N 106°13′7.24″W / 39.5398222°N 106.2186778°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Black Gore Creek |
| Primary outflows | Black Gore Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Eagle River Water & Sanitation District |
| Built | 1939 |
| Water volume | 642 acre-feet (792,000 cubic meters) |
| Surface elevation | 10,509 feet (3,203 meters) |
| Frozen | Freezes in winter |
| References | [1][2] |
.JPG)
Dam
editThe dam, Black Lake #1 Dam, has NID ID CO02188 and is a 73-foot (22-meter) high earthen dam that can store up to 642 acre-feet (792,000 cubic meters) of water. It was built in 1939 and is 400 feet (120 meters) wide. [2]
Black Lake #2
editA second reservoir — Black Lake #2 — lies approximately 100 yards (91 meters) north of Black Lake #1 along the bike path on the west side of Interstate 70. Located at 39°32′53.86″N 106°13′23.16″W / 39.5482944°N 106.2231000°W and at an elevation of 10,509 feet (3,203 meters), Black Lake #2 is smaller than Black Lake #1, with a storage capacity of 148 acre-feet (183,000 cubic meters) of water. Its 30-foot (9.1-meter) high dam is owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and was built in 1957.[3][2][4]
Recreation
editJointly, the two lakes are often referred to simply as "The Black Lakes." Both dams impound Black Gore Creek, a tributary of Gore Creek. The reservoirs are stocked twice yearly with rainbow trout, so they are popular with anglers. Black Lake #1 also has a fishing pier.[5] In addition, the White River National Forest manages the Black Lakes Picnic Site, which includes the areas around both lakes.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Black Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. December 31, 1981. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Black Lake #1". National Inventory of Dams. United States Army. December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ "Black Lake Number 2". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. December 31, 1981. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ "Black Lake #2". National Inventory of Dams. United States Army. December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ "Black Lakes near Vail Pass stocked with trout for the second time this year". VailDaily. July 27, 2022. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ "Black Lakes Picnic Site". White River National Forest. USDA Forest Service. n.d. Retrieved July 25, 2024.