Ken's Lake

     GWSSA provides irrigation water to a mix of Ken’s Lake Irrigation shareholders and Residential Secondary Irrigation (RSI) customers totaling approximately 255 customers through Ken’s Lake and two irrigation wells situated in the Valley Fill Aquifer (VFA). Initial concepts for Plainfield Dam, later named Ken’s Lake for K.E. McDougald, were to mitigate flooding through Moab via Millcreek. After several years of options and ideas, it was determined that the flooding could be in part mitigated while also creating a recreational area for locals and visitors. Another benefit of this would be to provide water for agricultural production to at least 7,300 acres of land in the Spanish Valley area through the construction of Ken’s Lake.

     Ken’s lake was constructed from 1979-1981. The lake itself is constructed above fracture zones in the sandstone base which were grouted, and a clay liner was installed during construction.

     The water in Ken’s Lake is diverted with a structure in Millcreek and is routed through the Sheeley Tunnel to the area known as Faux Falls, which is southeast of the lake. The Sheeley Tunnel is named for Horace Sheeley, who according to some, had hoped to supply water through the tunnel and a flume to the area below Blue Hill for farming. His plan was abandoned somewhere near halfway through the 645-foot tunnel project and was later completed with the construction of Ken’s Lake.

     Water to fill Ken’s Lake comes from the Millcreek drainage through cooperation with Moab Irrigation Company (MIC). The MIC right is for 19.33 CFS. The BLM Right of way obtained to run water to Kens Lake stipulated that the Diversion in Millcreek maintain a downstream flow of 3 CFS to maintain flow in Mill Creek to the point it joins the North Fork of Mill Creek.  

     While some remaining capacity exists for service from Ken’s Lake, GWSSA hopes to work with area water partners to bring additional water resources to help maintain levels and increase our area of service for irrigation.