Moon Lake (Utah)

Moon Lake is a high mountain reservoir on the south slope of the High Uintas in Duchesne County, Utah. Recreation management is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, as the lake is part of the Ashley National Forest.

Moon Lake
Moon Lake Dam, 1938
Moon Lake Show map of Utah Moon Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Duchesne County, Utah
Coordinates	40.562447°N 110.489606°W / 40.562447; -110.489606
Type	Reservoir
Basin countries	United States
Surface elevation	8,087 ft (2,465 m)[1]
Website	Moon Lake Campground

In 1938, the United States Bureau of Reclamation completed the earthen Moon Lake Dam on the Lake Fork River to expand the size of the existing natural lake for irrigation. The dam has a height of 98 feet, and the expanded reservoir a capacity of 49,500 acre-feet.^[2][3]

Climate

Climate data for Moon Lake, Utah, 1991–2020 normals: 8125ft (2477m)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	30.9 (−0.6)	34.1 (1.2)	40.6 (4.8)	49.1 (9.5)	58.6 (14.8)	69.5 (20.8)	77.3 (25.2)	77.5 (25.3)	67.5 (19.7)	55.5 (13.1)	40.1 (4.5)	30.6 (−0.8)	52.6 (11.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)	18.9 (−7.3)	23.1 (−4.9)	29.2 (−1.6)	36.3 (2.4)	46.1 (7.8)	54.6 (12.6)	62.9 (17.2)	63.5 (17.5)	54.1 (12.3)	43.3 (6.3)	31.0 (−0.6)	21.1 (−6.1)	40.3 (4.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	6.9 (−13.9)	12.0 (−11.1)	17.8 (−7.9)	23.5 (−4.7)	33.5 (0.8)	39.7 (4.3)	48.4 (9.1)	49.4 (9.7)	40.7 (4.8)	31.1 (−0.5)	21.9 (−5.6)	11.5 (−11.4)	28.0 (−2.2)
Source: NOAA[4]

Lakefork #1 is a SNOTEL weather station above Moon Lake, near the peak of Lake Fork Mountain, at an elevation of 10415 feet (3174 m).

Climate data for Lakefork #1, Utah, 2006–2020 normals: 10415ft (3174m)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	56 (13)	54 (12)	57 (14)	62 (17)	66 (19)	75 (24)	75 (24)	76 (24)	75 (24)	66 (19)	57 (14)	54 (12)	76 (24)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	49.0 (9.4)	47.1 (8.4)	50.3 (10.2)	55.8 (13.2)	61.4 (16.3)	69.8 (21.0)	72.9 (22.7)	70.9 (21.6)	67.7 (19.8)	58.8 (14.9)	53.2 (11.8)	47.8 (8.8)	73.0 (22.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	33.9 (1.1)	32.7 (0.4)	38.5 (3.6)	42.8 (6.0)	49.6 (9.8)	60.5 (15.8)	66.7 (19.3)	64.5 (18.1)	57.5 (14.2)	46.8 (8.2)	38.9 (3.8)	31.5 (−0.3)	47.0 (8.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	18.9 (−7.3)	17.8 (−7.9)	23.7 (−4.6)	29.2 (−1.6)	37.3 (2.9)	47.0 (8.3)	53.1 (11.7)	50.9 (10.5)	44.4 (6.9)	34.6 (1.4)	25.6 (−3.6)	17.1 (−8.3)	33.3 (0.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	3.8 (−15.7)	2.8 (−16.2)	8.8 (−12.9)	15.6 (−9.1)	25.0 (−3.9)	33.4 (0.8)	39.5 (4.2)	37.4 (3.0)	31.3 (−0.4)	22.4 (−5.3)	12.2 (−11.0)	2.8 (−16.2)	19.6 (−6.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−16.8 (−27.1)	−17.8 (−27.7)	−11.2 (−24.0)	−3.1 (−19.5)	9.8 (−12.3)	23.8 (−4.6)	32.0 (0.0)	29.8 (−1.2)	20.1 (−6.6)	4.6 (−15.2)	−9.8 (−23.2)	−19.4 (−28.6)	−22.9 (−30.5)
Record low °F (°C)	−30 (−34)	−27 (−33)	−16 (−27)	−13 (−25)	−2 (−19)	16 (−9)	28 (−2)	24 (−4)	15 (−9)	−10 (−23)	−23 (−31)	−30 (−34)	−30 (−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	2.17 (55)	2.34 (59)	2.05 (52)	2.34 (59)	2.13 (54)	1.40 (36)	1.91 (49)	2.28 (58)	2.50 (64)	2.42 (61)	2.13 (54)	2.36 (60)	26.03 (661)
Source 1: XMACIS2[5]
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation)[6]

Folklore

Main article: Moon Lake Monster

The Moon Lake Monster, also known as "Moonie," is described as a black, bumpy creature resembling a log with a fin. Witnesses have reported sightings, including an account of a large object following a boat, with water moving over what appeared to be scales.^[7]

Another story involves the ghost of a young girl said to have drowned in the lake. Witnesses describe her as appearing wet, with blue lips, before disappearing when approached. Some have also reported hearing sounds of crying or splashing near the lake.^[7]

See also

• Uinta Indian Irrigation Project