During the spring of 1869 John Wesley Powell and a nine man crew set out on a courageous journey exploring the Green and Colorado rivers. The most famous part of this expedition covered the immense Grand Canyon, but a gorge on the Green River was one of the first wonders to gain the crew's attention. As the late May sun illuminated the red canyon sidewalls, Powell penned Flaming Gorge in his expedition notes.
   Bringing the Colorado River Storage Project to fruition in the 1950s, the Green River was dammed with nearly a million yards of concrete. The massive Flaming Gorge stopper created a lake that stretched across the Utah-Wyoming border for over 90 miles. Powell's Flaming Gorge was flooded with 3.5 million acre feet of water.
   Today, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area covers 207,000 acres, providing a gorgeous setting for boaters, water skiers, parasailors, swimmers, anglers and campers. The lake is most famous for its huge lake trout, including a record holder of 50 pounds. The cold water is also a haven for the remainder of the trout family, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. Below the dam, the cool water releases from the lake bottom and continues to supply the area with excellent fishing, known as one of the best fly-fishing streams in the West.

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