Lake Nighthorse

Lake Nighthorse is a reservoir created by the Ridges Basin Dam in La Plata County Colorado. As part of the Animas-La Plata Water Project, Lake Nighthorse provides water storage to for tribal and water right claim-holders along the Animas River.

History

First authorized by Congress on September 30, 1968, The Animas-La Plata Water Project, as it came to be known, experience several decades of delays due in part to political concerns, farming claims, environmental challenges, cost overruns and government funding issues. A breakthrough to the delays came with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments, in December of 2000. The Bureau of Reclamation began construction in 2003, with the reservoir filling to capacity on June 29, 2011 at a total cost of $500 million. Lake Nighthorse is named in honor of former United States Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo.^{[1] [2]}

Recreation and marinas

The lake is currently closed to the public.

References