Location Apache County, Arizona Basin countries United States Average depth 15 ft (4.6 m) Area 24 ha | Type Reservoir Surface area 60 acres (24 ha) Surface elevation 2,259 m Mean depth 4.57 m | |
Anyone who has driven from Springerville to Alpine has seen Nelson Reservoir. A long and narrow lake, it follows the Nutrioso Creek Valley for nearly a mile. Fish that remain in Nelson Reservoir after summer stockings can grow to good size, making it a popular fishing site with local anglers.
Contents
- Map of Nelson Reservoir Arizona 85938 USA
- LocationsEdit
- DescriptionEdit
- HistoryEdit
- Fish speciesEdit
- References
Map of Nelson Reservoir, Arizona 85938, USA
LocationsEdit
Nelson Reservoir is situated at 7,412 feet (2,259 m) on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, as such the facilities located here are managed by that authority.
DescriptionEdit
Nelson Reservoir is located on Nutrioso Creek. It has 90 acres (36 ha) with a maximum depth of 24 feet (7.3 m) and an average depth of 15 feet (4.6 m). When the lake stops spilling in the spring, it is stocked with up to 20,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout until Labor Day. Stocking may end sooner if water quality conditions become unfavorable. Nelson Reservoir is subject to algae blooms and excessive weed growth as summer progresses. The lake contains native bluehead suckers and illegally introduced black crappie and green sunfish. The lake once contained brown, cutthroat and brook trout, but none remain today.
HistoryEdit
Nelson Reservoir was named after Edmond Nelson, who owned the land in 1918 and had fished there as early as 1891.
Edmond Nelson was my Great Grandfather. He and family members including my Grandfather Hyrum Nelson, began building the Nelson Reservoir in February 1891. After many years of hard work it was completed and provided water to the farms in the area, which was its original purpose. Ref. Name: