Incorporated in 1890, the Honey Lake Valley Land & Water Company proposed the construction of a dam on Long Valley Creek to reclaim the desert lands of the eastern Honey Lake Valley. The dam and reservoir site was situated on lands adjacent to that of Long Valley pioneer George Greeno (1817-1902). In the summer of 1892, work began on the dam—90 feet high, spanning a 1,000 feet with a 500-foot wide base. It was estimated that the reservoir would have a storage capacity of 1,281 acres, at an average depth of 14 feet. The project had its skeptics, especially with the regional dam failures of 1890—those of Ward Lake and Skedaddle. The Lassen Advocate noted in October 1892: “The great interest centers in the permanency and holding capacity of the storage reservoir. Will it withstand the winter torrents and the rush of spring freshets? Will it successfully defy the incursions of insidious rodents and stand firm against the pressure of the floods? When the location of the dam is taken into consideration, the scientific, practical and thorough nature of its construction gives conclusive evidence that it will prove permanent.” The Advocate concluded “It has been filled little at a time by fine quality of clay, water poured upon it and then puddle by means of horses, which renders it impervious to water.” The region experienced an unusual amount of heavy fall rains that added a considerable amount of water to the nearly completed reservoir—a delight to many. In late November 1892, the area was hit a deluge, an estimated seven and half inches of rain fell at the dam site alone! The floods from Long Valley Creek breached the dam and left a gaping hole 100 feet wide. The damage was estimated at $50,000. The Company had invested over $175,000 in the project and never recovered from that loss. The Company’s manager, president and owner Fred Lake remained committed to the project until his death in 1942.
