Black Lake (Eagle County, Colorado) Explained

Black Lake
Other Name:Black Lake #1
Location:Eagle
Group:The Black Lakes
Coordinates:39.5398°N -106.2187°W
Type:reservoir
Inflow:Black Gore Creek
Outflow:Black Gore Creek
Basin Countries:United States
Agency:Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
Volume:642acre.ft
Elevation:10509feet
Frozen:Freezes in winter
Pushpin Map:USA Colorado
Pushpin Label Position:south
Pushpin Map Caption:The reservoir's location in Colorado
Reference:[1]

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 10000feet and sits alongside Interstate 70.

Dam

The dam, Black Lake #1 Dam, has NID ID CO02188 and is a 73abbr=offNaNabbr=off high earthen dam that can store up to 642acre.ft of water. It was built in 1939 and is 400feet wide. [2]

Black Lake #2

A second reservoir — Black Lake #2 — lies approximately 100yd north of Black Lake #1 along the bike path on the west side of Interstate 70. Located at and at an elevation of 10509feet, Black Lake #2 is smaller than Black Lake #1, with a storage capacity of 148acre.ft of water. Its 30abbr=offNaNabbr=off high dam is owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and was built in 1957.[3] [4]

Recreation

Jointly, 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]

Notes and References

  1. 176181 . Black Lake . December 31, 1981 . July 25, 2024.
  2. Web site: Black Lake #1 . . December 22, 2022 . National Inventory of Dams . United States Army . July 25, 2024 .
  3. 176179 . Black Lake Number 2. December 31, 1981 . July 25, 2024.
  4. Web site: Black Lake #2 . . December 22, 2022 . National Inventory of Dams . United States Army . July 25, 2024 .
  5. News: . July 27, 2022 . Black Lakes near Vail Pass stocked with trout for the second time this year . live . VailDaily . https://web.archive.org/web/20220728124053/https://www.vaildaily.com/news/black-lakes-near-vail-pass-stocked-with-trout-for-the-second-time-this-year/ . July 28, 2022 . July 25, 2024.
  6. Web site: Black Lakes Picnic Site . . n.d. . White River National Forest . USDA Forest Service . July 25, 2024 .