Mojave Forks Dam

The Mojave River forks were first identified as a potential dam site in 1875, and flooding in the 1930s confirmed the need for a flood control facility along the Mojave River. However, it would be 30 more years before the state endorsed such a project. The West Fork Flood Control and Reservoir Project were authorized in 1960, and the USACE created a final design by 1966. Construction began in June 1967, and the embankment was topped out in May 1971. The project was formally completed and operational by 1974. ==Dimensions and location==

The dam is high from the foundations, high above the riverbed, and long. A smaller auxiliary dam is located directly to the west of the main dam, while the concrete spillway is on the east side of the dam. The reservoir controls runoff from a rugged drainage basin of on the north slope of the San Bernardino Mountains. Although the entire Mojave River basin covers , the comparatively small area behind the dam contributes the vast majority of the water in the river, the remaining 95 percent of the watershed being desert.{{cite web ==Operations==

Because the dam serves strictly for flood control, the reservoir is usually low or non-existent; however, it can fill quickly following heavy winter storms.{{cite web Because the dam reduces the sharp peaks of flash floods in the Mojave River channel, it also provides incidental groundwater recharge benefits in the Victor Valley area. ==Recreation==

Although there is no permanent pool at Mojave Forks, the dam and the surrounding area are part of Mojave River Forks Regional Park, which provides camping and hiking facilities.{{cite web ==See also==