Jordanelle Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Jordanelle Reservoir is a reservoir
in Wasatch County
, Utah
, United States
, just north of Heber City.
Jordanelle Reservoir is fed and drained primarily by the Provo River, and is impounded by the Jordanelle Dam, an Earthen dam. The construction of the dam resulted in the reroutings of U.S. Route 40
and U.S. Route 189 over the summit of nearby mountains and the submergence of the towns of Keetley
and Hailstone
.
Jordanelle State Park opened on June 29, 1995. Construction of the dam was challenged by several groups. Conservationists
wanted to maintain the natural state of the Provo River. Because of this, a large area at the foot of the dam was converted into an artificial wetland
. Other groups were concerned that the site was geologically flawed, citing the catastrophic failure of the Teton Dam
in Idaho
in 1976. Mining interests in nearby Park City
were also concerned, fearing that the reservoir would flood sections of the Ontario Mine.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Wasatch County
Wasatch County, Utah
Wasatch County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It was named for a Ute Indian word meaning mountain pass or low place in the high mountains. Its county seat and largest city is Heber City.The county is governed by a county council with an appointed county manager.Wasatch County is...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, just north of Heber City.
Jordanelle Reservoir is fed and drained primarily by the Provo River, and is impounded by the Jordanelle Dam, an Earthen dam. The construction of the dam resulted in the reroutings of U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
and U.S. Route 189 over the summit of nearby mountains and the submergence of the towns of Keetley
Keetley, Utah
Keetley is a ghost town located in Wasatch County, Utah, United States. It began as a mining community, with a spur of the Union Pacific Railroad increasing the economic interest in the community for a short time. The village was submerged by the waters of Jordanelle Reservoir in 1995 along with...
and Hailstone
Hailstone, Utah
Hailstone, Utah was a town in Wasatch County. It was submerged in 1995 by the waters of Jordanelle Reservoir along with Keetley, Utah.Hailstone was located at the junction of US-40 and US-189, seven miles north of Heber....
.
Jordanelle State Park opened on June 29, 1995. Construction of the dam was challenged by several groups. Conservationists
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
wanted to maintain the natural state of the Provo River. Because of this, a large area at the foot of the dam was converted into an artificial wetland
Constructed wetland
A constructed wetland or wetpark is an artificial wetland, marsh or swamp created as a new or restored habitat for native and migratory wildlife, for anthropogenic discharge such as wastewater, stormwater runoff, or sewage treatment, for land reclamation after mining, refineries, or other...
. Other groups were concerned that the site was geologically flawed, citing the catastrophic failure of the Teton Dam
Teton Dam
The Teton Dam was a federally built earthen dam on the Teton River in southeastern Idaho, set between Fremont and Madison counties, USA, which when filling for the first time suffered a catastrophic failure on June 5, 1976. The collapse of the dam resulted in the deaths of 11 peopleand 13,000 head...
in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
in 1976. Mining interests in nearby Park City
Park City, Utah
Park City is a town in Summit and Wasatch counties in the U.S. state of Utah. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and from Salt Lake City's east edge of Sugar House along Interstate 80. The population was 7,558 at the 2010 census...
were also concerned, fearing that the reservoir would flood sections of the Ontario Mine.
External links
- Blue Ribbon Fisheries - Jordanelle Reservoir
- Jordanelle State Park
- Utah Outdoor Activities by the Utah Division of Water QualityUtah Division of Water QualityThe Utah Division of Water Quality is an organization dedicated to preserving Utah's surface and underground water from certain hazards. It is a member of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.-External links:* *...
- Jordanelle Fishing Info