Lake Walcott
Encyclopedia
Lake Walcott is a reservoir
in south central Idaho
in the northwestern United States
, impounded by Minidoka Dam
. The dam
ming of the Snake River
by the Minidoka Project
formed the 11,000 acre (45 km²) lake beginning in 1909. "Bird Island" is an island in the lake. Lake Walcott is used for water-sports and fishing; although swimming in the lake is currently not allowed. The Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge
adjoins the lake is a major attraction in the region.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in south central Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
in the northwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, impounded by Minidoka Dam
Minidoka Dam
The Minidoka Dam is an earthfill dam on the Snake River in south central Idaho. The dam, originally completed in 1906, is east of Rupert on county highway 400; it is 86 feet high and nearly a mile in length, with a wide overflow spillway section. The dam and power plant were listed on the...
. The dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
ming of the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
by the Minidoka Project
Minidoka Project
The Minidoka Project is a series of public works by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to control the flow of the Snake River in Wyoming and Idaho, supplying irrigation water to farmlands in Idaho...
formed the 11,000 acre (45 km²) lake beginning in 1909. "Bird Island" is an island in the lake. Lake Walcott is used for water-sports and fishing; although swimming in the lake is currently not allowed. The Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Snake River Plain in south-central Idaho, northeast of Rupert. It includes about of shoreline around Lake Walcott, from Minidoka Dam upstream about ....
adjoins the lake is a major attraction in the region.