Starvation State Park

Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation (formerly Starvation State Park) is a state park in northeastern Utah, United States, featuring the 3,495-acre (1,414 ha) Starvation Reservoir. The park is 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of the town of Duchesne, Utah.

Not to be confused with Starvation Creek State Park.
Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Starvation Reservoir
Location of Fred Hayes State Park in Utah
Starvation State Park (the United States)
LocationDuchesne, Utah, United States
Coordinates40°12′10″N 110°26′50″W
Area3,500 acres (14 km2)[1]
Elevation5,700 ft (1,700 m)[1]
Established1972[1]
Visitors70044 (in 2011)[2]
OperatorUtah State Parks

Facilities
Aerial view of the region south of the park, with Starvation Reservoir visible near the top. Oil and oil shale drilling platforms dot the landscape.

The 3,500-acre (14 km2) Starvation Reservoir is open year-round, and is popular for fishing and boating. It lies at an elevation of 5,712 feet (1,741 m). Established in 1972, the marina features a 54-unit RV campground along with developed and primitive camping, rental cabins, boat ramp and dock, a sand beach, restrooms, showers, a group-use pavilion, sewage disposal, and fish cleaning stations.[3] Primitive camping is allowed in designated areas around the perimeter of the reservoir for a fee. OHVs are only allowed at Knight Hollow Campground. County owned dirt roads are open (including the road from Knight Hollow to the town of Duchesne) in the nearby area.

History

There are various narratives explaining the name "Starvation". The most credible story was recounted by Orson Mott. In 1900 A.M. Murdock of Heber city, approached Major Myton of the Uintah Indian reservation to purchase grazing permits for his cattle. He was given grazing permits in the upper Strawberry river area. Dave Murdock, brother of Al Murdock had secured a contract to provide beef to the Ute tribe at Fort Duchesne. In the fall of 1904 they brought the herd out of the high grazing areas and made it to the river bottoms which is now covered by Starvation reservoir. Very heavy snows stranded the herd. With no feed the entire herd died. Dave Murdock named the area "Starvation Flats" from this experience.[4]

Another account describes a group of fur trappers stranded in harsh winter conditions who survived by stealing a local Native American cache of food, which resulted in their starvation. Another account tells the opposite story, with the Indians doing the stealing and the trappers starving.[1] A third story involves a local rancher who attempted to graze livestock in the area, and they all starved.[5] Yet another explanation for the name involves settlers in the early 1900s trying to survive along the banks of the Strawberry River, in the area now occupied by the reservoir. These settlers dealt with near-starvation in a hostile environment. Winters in the area are long and cold, and their livestock often died. The area's short growing season was hindered by floods, hail, early frost and other problems. These settlers could have nicknamed the area Starvation.

Starvation Dam

The Starvation Dam (40°11′25″N 110°26′38″W) is a 210-foot-high (64 m), 3,070-foot-long (940 m) earthfill dam. The reservoir is fed by the Strawberry River in the Uinta Basin, and is part of the Central Utah Project – Bonneville Unit. It was constructed in 1970.[6]

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References
  1. "Fred Hays State Park: About the Park". Utah State Parks. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  2. "Utah State Park 2011 Visitation" (PDF). Utah State Parks Planning. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
  3. "Ferd Hayes State Park at Starvation : Amenities". Utah State Parks. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  4. "Highlights from Interview with Orson Mott", Interviewed by JP Tanner 1995
  5. Division of Water Quality. "Starvation Reservoir" (PDF). Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
  6. Bureau of Reclamation (2009-08-04). "Starvation Dam". U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
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