Starvation State Park
Encyclopedia
Starvation State Park and Reservoir is a state park
in northeastern Utah
, USA, featuring a 3495 acres (1,414.4 ha) reservoir. The park is 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of the town of Duchesne, Utah
.
and boating
. It lies at an elevation
of 5712 feet (1,741 m). Established in 1972, the marina features a 54 unit RV
campground along with primitive camping
, boat ramp and dock, a sand beach
, restrooms
, shower
s, a group-use pavilion
, sewage
disposal, and fish cleaning stations
. Primitive camping is allowed in designated areas around the perimeter of the reservoir for a fee.
cache of food, which resulted in their starvation
. Another account tells the opposite story, with the Indians doing the stealing and the trappers starving. A third story involves a local ranch
er who attempted to graze livestock
in the area, and they all starved. The most probable explanation for the name involves settler
s in the early 1900s trying to survive along the banks of the Strawberry River
, in the area now occupied by the reservoir. These settlers dealt with near-starvation in a hostile environment. Winters in the area are long and cold, and their livestock often died. The area's short growing season was hindered by flood
s, hail
, early frost
and other problems. These settlers nicknamed the area Starvation.
. The reservoir is fed by the Strawberry River
in the Uinta Basin, and is part of the Central Utah Project
- Bonneville Unit project. It was constructed in 1970.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in northeastern 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...
, USA, featuring a 3495 acres (1,414.4 ha) reservoir. The park is 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of the town of Duchesne, Utah
Duchesne, Utah
Duchesne is a city in and the county seat of Duchesne County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,690 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Duchesne city is located at . just west of the junction of the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah...
.
Facilities
The 3500 acres (14.2 km²) Starvation State Park and Reservoir is open year-round, and is popular for fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
. It lies at an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 5712 feet (1,741 m). Established in 1972, the marina features a 54 unit RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
campground along with primitive camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, boat ramp and dock, a sand beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
, restrooms
Washroom
A public toilet is a room or small building containing one or more toilets and possibly also urinals which is available for use by the general public, or in a broader meaning of "public", by customers of other...
, shower
Shower
A shower is an area in which one bathes underneath a spray of water.- History :...
s, a group-use pavilion
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
, sewage
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
disposal, and fish cleaning stations
Cleaning station
A cleaning station is a location where fish, sea turtles, hippo and other aquatic life, freshwater and marine, congregate to be cleaned.The cleaning process includes the removal of parasites from the animal's body , and can be performed by various creatures A cleaning station is a location where...
. Primitive camping is allowed in designated areas around the perimeter of the reservoir for a fee.
History
There are various narratives explaining the name Starvation. One account describes a group of fur trappers stranded in harsh winter conditions who survived by stealing a local Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
cache of food, which resulted in their starvation
Starvation
Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...
. Another account tells the opposite story, with the Indians doing the stealing and the trappers starving. A third story involves a local ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
er who attempted to graze livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
in the area, and they all starved. The most probable explanation for the name involves settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s in the early 1900s trying to survive along the banks of the Strawberry River
Strawberry River (Utah)
The Strawberry River is an river located in eastern Utah, United States.Strawberry River's headwaters are located in the Wasatch Mountains of the western Uintah Basin...
, in the area now occupied by the reservoir. These settlers dealt with near-starvation in a hostile environment. Winters in the area are long and cold, and their livestock often died. The area's short growing season was hindered by flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s, hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
, early frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
and other problems. These settlers nicknamed the area Starvation.
Starvation Dam
The Starvation Dam 40°11′25"N 110°26′38"W is a 210 feet (64 m), 3070 feet (935.7 m) earthfill damEmbankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
. The reservoir is fed by the Strawberry River
Strawberry River (Utah)
The Strawberry River is an river located in eastern Utah, United States.Strawberry River's headwaters are located in the Wasatch Mountains of the western Uintah Basin...
in the Uinta Basin, and is part of the Central Utah Project
Central Utah Project
The Central Utah Project is a United States federal water project. It was authorized for construction under the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956 as a participating project...
- Bonneville Unit project. It was constructed in 1970.