Box Elder Reservoir.

In 2001, after the Bircher Wildfire at Mesa Verde National Park, Ranger Jim Kleidon reported a valley-bottom mound, much like Morefield Reservoir, that was suddenly visible after the trees burned away.  WPI began to study this reservoir, now called Box Elder Reservoir, in 2002.  Through augering and soil analyses and the archaeologists’ dating of pottery sherds found, we established the dates of use for the reservoir as A.D. 800–950.  However, the water supply would have been sporadic with extensive dredging maintenance required.