This 831-acre reservoir is located just south of Hayden Hill. It was so named for John Silva (1855-1904), a native of Portugal, who purchased 80acres near the base of the town from Lewis Hanson for $800. Silva was a sheep rancher by profession. When he died in 1904, he was buried in the Hayden Hill Cemetery.

In 1919 Homer Jack filed an application with the Government Land Office to construct a reservoir that would flood the flat with spring run off. It was not until 1924 when the reservoir was constructed to irrigate southeastern Big Valley, where the water is distributed by Juniper Creek.

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