Twin Lakes, previously known as Fish Lake, has been a popular vacation destination in Idaho since the early 1900s. Visitors arrived by horse-drawn wagon or train, and the area was bustling with steam-powered boats, hotels, resorts, dance halls, and boat parades.
The Twin Lakes Canal System: Transforming the Landscape
In the summer of 1900, farmers from Clifton, Dayton, and Weston banded together to explore the possibility of transporting water from Mink Creek, nearly 30 miles to the east, to their parched farmland on the west side of the valley. They formed the Oneida Canal Company and filed a claim for 300 second feet of water from Mink Creek. The project, which took $1,540,000 and 20 years to complete, included 30 miles of canal, an inverted siphon across the Bear River, and several storage reservoirs along the way. The Twin Lakes Canal System has since been a major factor in the productivity and wealth of farming operations in Franklin County.
The Irrigation Controversy and the Twin Lakes Improvement Association
In 1906, a dam was constructed so that the lake could be used as a source of irrigation water for the Greenacres Irrigation District. However, in 1956, the Twin Lakes Improvement Association was formed and contested the lake’s use for irrigation purposes, ultimately winning a court battle. The level of the lake is now set by Supreme Court order.
The Twin Lakes Improvement Association: Preserving the Natural Beauty
The Twin Lakes Improvement Association was incorporated on October 4, 1956, with the objectives of maintaining adjudicated lake levels, reducing sedimentation and nutrient loading, increasing coordination and participation with other organizations, increasing public/user knowledge, and enhancing public use and environment of Twin Lakes. The Association has accomplished several milestones, including:
- Establishing the historic lake level at 10-4 through the court system in 1969
- Establishing the Association’s storage water right to the water between 6-4 and 10-4 (based on a 1906 water right) in 1975
- Committing $12,000 to help fund the 1987 falter water quality study through the University of Idaho
- Creating a public water district (North Kootenai Water) from a private system in 1988
- Helping get the new dam built between 2001 and 2005
- Applying for grants/permits to improve the narrows, the mid-channel area, and Fish Creek between 2004 and 2011
- Helping establish snow-tel stations to better predict/control the lake level between 2007 and 2009
The Enduring Appeal of Twin Lakes
The two lakes, joined by a channel, are about five miles long and have over 684 residences around them. The lakes have remained an enticing and unpretentious place for recreation, including fishing, swimming, boating, and waterskiing, attracting visitors from near and far.
Conclusion
Twin Lakes, Idaho, has a rich history that dates back to the early 1900s. From the bustling social atmosphere of the past to the ongoing efforts of the Twin Lakes Improvement Association to preserve the natural beauty and recreational value of the lakes, this captivating destination continues to captivate and inspire visitors from all walks of life.
References:
– Twin Lakes Canal Company History
– Twin Lakes Improvement Association History and Newsletters
– Wikipedia – Twin Lakes (Idaho)