With the planned reopening of Elkhead Reservoir one week away, Dan Davidson, museum director of the Museum of Northwest Colorado researched the first time the reservoir opened in 1975, and the 32-year history that followed.

Craig men John Sherman and Del Findley traveled to Denver on an emergency trip to save the proposed dam project in March of 1973.

The pair met with state Sen. Fay DeBerard and state Rep. Wad Hinman to fight proposed cuts that would have left the project "a smaller pond."

State Game and Fish had already purchased the land for the reservoir at a cost of $221,000. The cost of the dam was estimated at $291,000, with $55,000 being authorized by the 1972 Legislature for site development.

The original cost of the project was set at $600,000.

Early in the negotiations, Colorado-Ute Electric proposed doubling the size of the lake for water storage to be used for a future steam generating power plant planned south of Craig. The electric company's project manager, Bob Bryant, was also involved in the lobbying to keep the reservoir at its proposed larger size.

The Northwest Colorado Daily Press noted the approval of the reservoir by the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 20, 1973. The committee allocated $87,600 for the construction of the 80-foot dam, with questions still remaining about whether the lake would be run by wildlife or state parks.

The besieged and embattled Elkhead project survived a round of budget-cuts the next month, and the project proceeded.

The Craig Empire-Courier announced the completion of the Elkhead Dam on May 14, 1975, with the water rushing in creating "Lake Zato," a name that would be short-lived.

The Craig Empire-Courier also reported the first drowning of a man at Elkhead Reservoir on July 7, 1976, when Lloyd Phillips of Olathe died while innertubing down the dam's spillway. The 22-year-old fell off his tube and was caught in the water at the bottom of the spillway, his body finally being recovered about 10 p.m. that evening. Fifteen Sheriff's Posse members responded to the accident, with Dave Edwards and Jim Meineke equipped with special diving equipment.

Another notable event occurred in June 1977, when a 19-foot boat belonging to Bill Bilsing sunk in 45 feet of water.

Undersheriff Jeff Corriveau led a group of Sheriff's Posse members who included Ron Golden, Jim Meineke and Carl Huntsman, eventually raising the boat to the surface, with little damage.

While talk of expanding the reservoir took place for many years, letters were finally sent out to adjacent landowners in March of 2001, exploring the possibility of enlarging the lake.

On Dec. 23, 2004, the drawdown began at Elkhead, lowering the water level to accommodate the construction of a new, 25-foot taller dam.