Following completion of the reservoir, rising water levels flooded the banks of the Kuantien River. Viewed from above, the river can still be seen meandering through the waters of the reservoir like a reef of blue coral, hence its other moniker.
烏山頭水庫建設完成後，由於水位升高，淹沒官田溪谷，從空中鳥瞰，像一座蜿蜒曲折的藍珊瑚，故別名珊瑚潭，同時也是南瀛八景「珊瑚飛泉」、「臥堤迎暉」的所在。