Lakes and Reservoirs

A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable. ~William Wordsworth

Comprising 39.9 million acres, lakes and reservoirs are a major water resource in this country. Freshwater inland lakes and reservoirs provide our nation with 70% of its drinking water and supply water for industry, irrigation, and hydropower. Lake ecosystems support complex and important food web interactions and provide habitat needed to support numerous threatened and endangered species. Lakes are also the cornerstone of our nation's 19 billion dollar freshwater fishing industry, form the backbone of numerous State tourism industries, and provide countless recreational opportunities.

The draining of Lake Powell has been hotly contested.

The Great Salt Lake has been called America's Serengeti for birds. As the largest lake west of the Great Lakes, this salt water marvel is the largest wetland area between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. Its 500,000 acres of wetlands provide habitat for 250 bird species travelling from the Arctic Ocean to the tip of South America and beyond.


Utah has some spectacular Lakes and Reservoirs They can be located by this site by county or specific name. There are wonderful places to take an RV. Perhaps you are in the mood to go camping.

Perhaps you might like to discover new fishing areas . Maybe you want to try your hand at the fine art of fly fishing or you want to know the fishing conditions or you need a license.

Perhaps you want to go boating.

Utah's lakes and reservoirs are glorious and the uses, varied. We must be wise stewards of these precious resources.

Are any of our waters impaired?

For more technical information