When trying to figure out where to place my first geocache, I kept returning to this location. The reason for the name -- I will almost guarantee you that your GPS, phone or whatever device you are using to look for this cache, has a large body of water here along county road 37. It’s probably even named Sage Creek Reservoir on your map. However, Sage Creek Reservoir… AIN’T NO MORE… and hasn’t been for over 30 years!
Sage Creek Reservoir (SCR) was developed as part of many large irrigation projects in and around Hayden between the years of 1910 and 1911. SCR was the largest of the projects although there was a plan for a ditch to go from the Twenty Mile Park area clear to the Williams Fork, south of Craig and would have covered over 25,000 acres. When it was finished by Sellers and Cook, SCR was the largest reservoir in the area, and most likely the county. (Source: Steamboat Pilot, March, 1910 & December, 1911)
SCR served it’s purpose of irrigation for over 70 years until the dam washed out in the Spring of 1985. SCR was also the home of awesome fishing, a water skier or two, and even many a high school senior on senior ditch day.
Many a time, I’ve wondered why, after 30 years, and with new technology, this feature hasn’t been removed from maps – but then again, I’ve used it several times in the last 25 years to find myself on the map! So what a better place to hide my first cache!
Happy Caching!