This reservoir is the outlet of the Upper Cow Creek Watershed, which contains 47,482.5 acres (19,215.5 ha) of land.
The reservoir has a higher-than-allowed level of mercury as described by the Clean Water Act.
[6] The name "Galesville" comes from a small town in the Cow Creek Valley.
The location was a post office established in 1854 with George F. Hall as the first postmaster.
Legend has it that the initial two settlers were Gale and Goshen, who named it Galesville.