Georgetown Lake (Montana)

Georgetown Lake
photograph of lake and mountains
Georgetown Lake from western shore
Location Granite and Deer Lodge Counties, Montana
Coordinates 46°11′09″N 113°17′28″W / 46.18583°N 113.29111°W / 46.18583; -113.29111Coordinates: 46°11′09″N 113°17′28″W / 46.18583°N 113.29111°W / 46.18583; -113.29111[1]
Type Reservoir
Primary inflows North Fork Flint Creek
Primary outflows Flint Creek
Surface area 2,818 acres (1,140 hectares)
Average depth 16 feet (4.9 m)
Shore length1 17.36 mi (27.94 km)
Surface elevation 6,337 feet (1,932 m)
Website georgetownlakemt.com
References [2]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Georgetown Lake is a 2,818-acre (1,140-hectare) reservoir in Deer Lodge and Granite Counties, Montana. The reservoir impounds the North Fork of Flint Creek and lies at an elevation of 6,337 feet (1,932 m) just west of the Anaconda Range. The reservoir is a popular recreational area with campgrounds, resorts and picnic areas along its 17.36 mi (27.94 km) shoreline. The reservoir was created in 1885 to produce power for the town of Phillipsburg and area mining operations.[3]

Granite-Bimetallic Mining Company of Philipsburg completed construction of the Georgetown Dam and powerhouse in 1900. By 1906, the powerhouse was supplying electricity to the smelter in Anaconda. In 1909 the Anaconda Copper Mining Company bought the dam and powerhouse. The Montana Power Company assumed control of power generation in 1912. The powerhouse operated until 1990, when Montana Power mothballed the facility and sold the dam and generation facilities to Granite County.[4]

The lake assumed the name of Georgetown when the dam flooded the area known as Georgetown Flats. Georgetown flats was the location of a placer mining camp operated by George Cameron from 1867. By 1886, most of the residents of the Georgetown camp had abandoned the flats.[5]

Angling

Georgetown Lake is considered a Blue Ribbon fishery and holds trophy sized rainbow and brook trout.[6] It is rated as Montana's most abundant lake, with more fish caught per person than any other lake in the state.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Georgetown Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ "Montana Fisheries Information System--Georgetown Lake". Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Georgetown Lake like a Local". Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  4. ↑ Struckman, Robert (September 12, 2016). "Granite County to restart Georgetown hydro plant". Montana Standard. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ Arstad, Rich (2009). Montana Place Names-From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Press. p. 104. ISBN 9780975919613.
  6. ↑ "Georgetown Lake Like A Local". Tempest Technologies. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Georgetown Lake". Glacier to Yellowstone Montana Fly Fishing. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
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