Starvation Reservoir
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Starvation Reservoir is located just west of Duchesne in eastern Utah. Click here for map. This is a fairly small and shallow reservoir.
Altitude is 5,700 feet. Photo: Bruce Argyle, August 23, 1998 |
| The water: Surface water temperature is 71 degrees in
mid-summer. Visibility is 6-9 feet, with the best visibility closer to the dam. Visibility
worsens considerably in deeper water. Daytime darkness was encountered at 36 feet. We hit
bottom at 44 feet without reaching a thermocline. Mike Engberson cruises the green waters of Starvation. Photo by Bruce Argyle, Nikonos V w 20 mm lens, 2 YS-50 strobes |
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What to see: Not much, frankly. Although the cliffs might
promise underwater rock formations, most of the bottom is just mud. You'll see a few
crayfish. If you're camping in the Starvation area, you can probably grab enough for a
meal. Need a recipe? A crawdad prepares to defend his lonely rock against the photographer. Photo Bruce Argyle, Nikonos V 20 mm lens, 2 YS-50 strobes. September 9, 1998 |
| Diving sites: Look for a rocky area, away from boat
traffic. Dive in the early morning for best visibility. When heading east, there's a dirt
road on your left 1/4 mile before the bridge. It takes you right to the water's edge. The
road to the state park takes off to the left as you enter Duchesne. Photo: Mike Engberson prepares to hunt. Starvation is one of only four Utah bodies of water in which spearfishing is allowed... All the more unfortunate, because hunting-wise, this reservoir isn't exactly a hot spot. |
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Exposure: You'll be comfortable in a single-piece wet suit, or in a farmer john and jacket. Our divers felt very warm without gloves or hood.
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Facilities: Nearest fast-food, gas, and repairs are in Duchesne, ten miles further east. Air fills are at Water World in Orem's University Mall. |
| Regulations: Spearfishing is allowed in Starvation Reservoir. So far, nobody has reported actually getting any fish there. (We didn't see a single fish during our site visit.) |
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Our recommendation: We wouldn't suggest a special trip to dive Starvation. But if you're going there anyway, you might as well exercise your fin muscles. If you've had good experiences at Starvation Lake, we want to hear from you! If you're just looking for a good dive "out east," may we suggest Soldier Creek (Strawberry)?
Getting there: Click here for map.
Ogden: Take I-84 east to Echo Junction, where you turn southbound/westbound on I-80. Turn
south (left) at US-40/US-189. Keep on US-40 when the routes separate in Heber.
Salt Lake: I-80 over Parley's Summit, southbound (right) on US-40/US-189. Stay straight on
US-40 going east when US-189 separates in Heber.
Provo: Go up Provo Canyon on US-189, turning right in Heber onto US-40 Continue east on
US-40 past Strawberry Reservoir to Starvation.
