Strawberry Reservoir
{{Short description|Reservoir in Wasatch County, Utah, U.S.}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Strawberry Reservoir
| image =
| caption =
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation
Wasatch County, Utah, U.S.
| coords = {{Coord|40.1744055|-111.1267550|type:waterbody_region:US-UT_scale:250000|display=inline,title}}{{cite GNIS|1446189|Strawberry Reservoir|Jan 15, 2021}}
| type = Reservoir
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United States
| length = {{convert|10.6|mi}}
| width =
| area =
| depth ={{convert|200|ft}}
| max-depth = {{convert|200|ft|abbr=on}}
| volume = {{convert|1106500|acre.ft|km3|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|7612|ft|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities =
| pushpin_map = Utah#USA
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Strawberry Reservoir in Utah, USA.
| pushpin_map_caption =
| website = {{url|https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231932}}
| date-built = 1972
}}
Strawberry Reservoir is a large reservoir in the U.S. state of Utah, located on the Strawberry River. It is Utah's most popular fishery, receiving over 1.5 million angling hours annually and is part of the Blue Ribbon Fisheries program. Game fish in the reservoir include sterilized rainbow trout, bear lake cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon and crayfish. It is located {{convert|23|mi|km}} southeast of Heber, Utah on U.S. Route 40.
The reservoir is situated in Strawberry Valley. This valley is normally part of the Colorado River drainage. The dam was constructed to divert water into Utah Valley.
Strawberry Reservoir was the 2006 recipient of the American Fisheries Society's outstanding sport fish development/restoration Project of the Year award.{{cite news | last =Grass | first =Ray | title =Strawberry gets national award for its outstanding sport fishing | pages =C1–C2 | publisher =Deseret News | date =May 17, 2007 }}
Soldier Creek Dam
Soldier Creek Dam is an earthen dam, {{convert|272|feet}} tall and {{convert|1290|feet}} long at its crest, completed in 1972 as an irrigation project of the United States Bureau of Reclamation, a major element of the extensive Central Utah Project.{{cite web|url=http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Central%20Utah%20Project%20-%20Bonneville%20Unit|title=Project details - Central Utah Project - Bonneville Unit - Bureau of Reclamation|author=Reclamation Web Team|work=usbr.gov}} The original Strawberry Dam was constructed by the Bureau in 1913, about eight miles upstream of the current location, then deliberately breached in 1985.{{cite web|url=http://wildlife.utah.gov/strawberry/straw2.php|title=Utah Division of Wildlife Resources|work=utah.gov}} The 1972 Soldier Creek Dam expanded the capacity of Strawberry Reservoir from {{cvt|283,000|acre-feet}} to a maximum capacity of {{cvt|1,106,500|acre-feet}} and a total surface area of some {{convert|17,164|acre}}.
History
Strawberry Reservoir was poisoned (chemically treated) in 1990 to kill all aquatic life in the lake in attempt to get rid of trash fish, specifically the Utah chub. Shortly after replanting the fish, Utah Chub began to appear. The DWR (Division of Wildlife Resources) found that the Bonneville Cutthroat trout (Bear Lake Strain) was a very aggressive chub-eating fish. The DWR has used the Cutthroat trout to keep the number of Chub down in the lake. The fishing and angling regulations for Strawberry are very strict regarding the possession, release and quantity of Native Cutthroat an angler is allowed to keep.
As of 2008 all Cutthroat between {{convert|15|in|mm}} to {{convert|22|in|mm}} in length are required to be released back into the water, regardless of the health of the fish. However, anglers are continually encouraged to voluntarily release all cutthroat trout, regardless of size. Additionally, the 2021 DWR regulations for the waterbody indicate that "Any trout with cutthroat characteristics (not necessarily jaw slashing) is considered to be a cutthroat trout."{{Cite web|title=Fishing regulations|url=https://wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/fishing-regulations.html|access-date=2021-06-30|website=wildlife.utah.gov}}
Clearing of the banks of the reservoir's major tributary, the Strawberry River, over the course of the 20th century for grazing purposes has caused naturally occurring phosphorus to become washed into the river and deposited in levels unhealthy to wildlife in the reservoir. An extensive restoration program to re-plant grasses and trees along the banks of the entire river was expected to be completed in 2010.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100728015930/http://archive.deseretnews.com/article/700050830/Strawberry-River-restoration-project-brings-promise.html Strawberry River restoration project brings promise]. Deseret Morning News. July 26, 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.usbr.gov/projects/pdf.php?id=197|title=Strawberry Valley Project|publisher=US Bureau of Reclamation|author=Stene, Eric A.|access-date=September 9, 2018}} However, the project did not reach completion until 2019.{{Cite web|title=Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative|url=https://wri.utah.gov/wri/reports/ProjectSummaryReport.html?id=4618|access-date=2021-06-30|website=wri.utah.gov}} The USFS will continue to monitor the area for weeds and weed treatments will continue, as needed. To improve sage grouse nesting and brood-rearing habitats, these areas will be accessed and treatments will be proposed where appropriate. Grazing will still be allowed where it is currently in place.
Climate
Strawberry Divide is a nearby weather station.
{{Weather box
|location = Strawberry Divide, Utah, 2004–2020 normals: 8123ft (2476m)
|single line = Yes
|Jan high F = 33.6
|Feb high F = 34.8
|Mar high F = 42.8
|Apr high F = 48.2
|May high F = 56.5
|Jun high F = 67.5
|Jul high F = 74.9
|Aug high F = 72.8
|Sep high F = 64.9
|Oct high F = 51.9
|Nov high F = 41.9
|Dec high F = 32.2
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 25.6
|Feb mean F = 26.7
|Mar mean F = 33.7
|Apr mean F = 38.7
|May mean F = 46.7
|Jun mean F = 56.1
|Jul mean F = 63.4
|Aug mean F = 61.4
|Sep mean F = 54.0
|Oct mean F = 43.1
|Nov mean F = 33.9
|Dec mean F = 24.8
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 17.7
|Feb low F = 18.6
|Mar low F = 24.6
|Apr low F = 29.1
|May low F = 37.0
|Jun low F = 44.7
|Jul low F = 51.9
|Aug low F = 50.1
|Sep low F = 43.2
|Oct low F = 34.2
|Nov low F = 25.8
|Dec low F = 17.4
|year low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.69
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.33
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.61
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.37
|May precipitation inch = 1.94
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.22
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.11
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.61
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.99
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.41
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.68
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.51
|year precipitation inch =
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = November 15, 2023
}}
|source 2 = NOAA (Precipitation)
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USS0011J08S&format=pdf
|title= Strawberry Divide, Utah 1991-2020 Monthly Normals
|access-date = November 15, 2023
}}
}}
Major fishing areas
Strawberry Reservoir contains four major fishing areas. The largest, at 64 percent of the reservoir's volume, is the Strawberry Basin, which includes the original {{convert|8400|acre|km2|adj=on}} Reservoir. The Meadows, located at the southern end of the reservoir south of the Indian Creek Dike, fills a valley of the lower Indian Creek Drainage. Soldier Creek Basin, the deepest fishing area, includes the old Soldier Creek Reservoir, and contains Stinking Springs and Soldier Creek Bay. The Narrows lies between Strawberry and Soldier Creek and includes the drainage channels of the Strawberry River and Indian Creek.[http://wildlife.utah.gov/strawberry/straw5.html Utah Division of Wildlife Resources]
Aquatic life
- Bonneville cutthroat trout (Bear Lake Strain) - Oncorhynchus clarki utah
- Rainbow trout - Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Kokanee salmon - Oncorhynchus nerka
- Crayfish (commonly called Crawdads)
- Utah chub - Gila atraria
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Strawberry Reservoir}}
- [http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/strawberry/ Strawberry Reservoir] - Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
- [http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/strawberryreservoir.html Utah Outdoor Activities]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060528023323/http://www.utahfishinginfo.com/utahlakes/strawberry.php Strawberry Fishing Info]}}
{{Protected areas of Utah|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Lakes of Wasatch County, Utah
Category:Buildings and structures in Wasatch County, Utah