Lake Avery[1] is a reservoir in Rio Blanco County, Colorado about 20 miles southeast of the town of Meeker. It also lies west of the unincorporated community of Buford. The reservoir is owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife,[2] and its dam impounds Big Beaver Creek, a tributary of the White River. Lake Avery is also called Big Beaver Reservoir, however it is unclear whether the name has changed or whether the reservoir just has two names.[4]
| Lake Avery | |
|---|---|
| |
 Lake Avery and part of Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area | |
  Lake Avery Location in Colorado | |
| Location | Rio Blanco County, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39°58′18″N 107°38′50″W / 39.97167°N 107.64722°W[1] |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Big Beaver Creek |
| Primary outflows | Big Beaver Creek Big Beaver Ditch |
| Managing agency | Colorado Parks and Wildlife |
| Designation | Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area |
| Built | 1964[2] |
| Surface area | 99 hectares (240 acres)[3] |
| Max. depth | 79 feet (24 m)[3] |
| Water volume | 9,762 acre-feet (12,041,000 cubic meters)[2] |
| Surface elevation | 6,988 feet (2,130 meters)[1] |
State wildlife area
editThe lake and a large area of land surrounding it are part of the 13,664-acre (5,530-hectare) Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area. The wildlife area comprises six units or divisions, including the Bel Aire Unit, the Lake Avery Unit, the Oak Ridge Unit, the Jon Wangnild Unit, the Sleepy Cat Ponds Unit, and the Sleepy Cat Fishing Easement. The wildlife area offers deer, elk, rabbit, dusky (blue) grouse, dove, and waterfowl hunting, coldwater stream fishing, and camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The lake has two boat ramps.[5] Lake Avery contains both rainbow and cutthroat trout.[6]
In 2018, due to dangerously high temperatures and low flow rates in the White River that endangered trout species, Colorado Parks and Wildlife began releasing water from Lake Avery to the White River for the first time since 2012. They were permitted to discharge water at a rate of 20 cubic feet per second for 120 days.[7]
Dam
editThe dam, called Big Beaver Dam, (National ID # CO00962) is a 102-foot tall earthen dam built in 1964.[2] In 2022, the dam was classified as a "high hazard dam" by the State of Colorado due to the property damage it would cause if breached. Its quality has declined over the years.[8] Beginning in 2024, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has begun draining the reservoir in order to facilitate the dam repairs. Public access will end beginning 25 November 2024; repairs have been scheduled to begin in Spring 2025.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Lake Avery". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b c d "Big Beaver". National Inventory of Dams. 2018-07-12. Archived from the original on 2019-09-01. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
- ^ a b Martinez, Patrick J.; Gross, Michael D.; Vigil, Estevan M. (2010). A compendium of crustacean zooplankton and Mysid Diluviana collections from selected Colorado reservoirs and lakes, 1991-2009 (PDF). Special report ; no. 82. [Denver]: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Aquatic Wildlife Research. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Big Beaver Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area" (PDF). Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
- ^ "Popular Lakes" (PDF). White River National Forest. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-28. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Mike Porras. "Lake Avery water release underway". Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Turner, Niki (13 July 2022). "Repairs to Lake Avery dam slated to begin in 2023". The Herald Times. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Turner, Niki (17 July 2024). "Status update on Lake Avery, Rio Blanco Lake projects". The Herald Times. Retrieved 16 October 2024.