McPhee Reservoir Vacation and Resort Properties

McPhee Reservoir is in Montezuma County, and is the second largest artificial body of water in Colorado. It was constructed and is operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Dolores Project, and dams the Dolores River to furnish irrigation water for Montezuma and Dolores counties and the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation.

McPhee Reservoir was completed in 1985 and is the principal feature of the Dolores Project in southwestern Colorado. The Dolores Project is a participating project authorized with the Colorado River Storage Project. The reservoir has a maximum surface area of 4,470 acres and is located on the Dolores River in the San Juan National Forest north of Cortez, Colorado. The Lone Dome Recreation Area is located below McPhee Dam and includes over 10 miles of public access to the Dolores River. The reservoir provides important recreation, fish and wildlife benefits; however, its primary purpose is to provide irrigation water, flood control, and hydroelectric power. Recreation at McPhee is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, San Juan National Forest, 970-247-4874.The Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores, Colorado, is an archaeological museum that displays artifacts found during the reservoir's construction. The exhibits include a reconstructed prehistoric dwelling. The Anasazi Heritage Center also maintains a 1/2 mile interpretive trail that leads to Escalante ruins.

 

 

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