Georgetown Lake (Montana)

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.[4]

Georgetown Lake
photograph of lake and mountains
Georgetown Lake from western shore
Georgetown Lake is located in Montana
Georgetown Lake
Georgetown Lake
LocationGranite County & Deer Lodge County, Montana, United States
Coordinates46°11′09″N 113°17′28″W[1]
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsNorth Fork Flint Creek
Primary outflowsFlint Creek
Built1885; 1901; 1919 [2]
Surface area2,818.1 acres (1,140.4 ha)[3]
Average depth16 feet (4.9 m)[4]
Shore length117.36 mi (27.94 km)
Surface elevation6,337 feet (1,932 m)[3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

History

The reservoir was created in 1885 to produce power for the town of Phillipsburg and area mining operations.[2]

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.[5]

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.[6]

Angling

Georgetown Lake is considered a Blue Ribbon fishery and holds trophy-sized rainbow and brook trout.[4][7]

References
  1. "Georgetown Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. Jonathan C. Knight; Paul J. Garrison; John C. Wright (1976). "An Investigation into Georgetown Lake". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  3. "Georgetown Lake". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  4. "Georgetown Lake Like a Local". Georgetown Lake: Like a Local. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  5. Struckman, Robert (September 12, 2016). "Granite County to restart Georgetown hydro plant". Montana Standard. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  6. Arstad, Rich (2009). Montana Place Names-From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-9759196-1-3.
  7. "Georgetown Lake". Glacier to Yellowstone Montana Fly Fishing. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
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