Over the years there have been many proposals to build a dam at “The Crossing” which is where Pete’s Creek flows into Willow Creek. While during the summer and fall, Pete’s Creek water flow in minimal. The idea was to capture winter and spring flows, which depending on precipitation, can be substantial enough to warrant a dam. Otherwise, the general opinion was that water was wasted where it would eventually flow into Honey Lake.

In 1916, the Honey Lake Valley Irrigation District did the most comprehensive study for this particular dam/reservoir. It was opinion of their engineer William Wales that the reservoir was capable of impounding 51,000 acre feet of water in an average year. This district like so many before it and after it was plagued with other problems, that their plans remained on paper.

Support