Antelope Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Antelope Reservoir |
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Morning at Antelope Reservoir
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 Antelope Reservoir
Location in Oregon
Antelope Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Malheur County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 42°54′24″N 117°14′09″W / 42.90667°N 117.23583°W |
| Type | reservoir, eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Jack Creek, Antelope Feeder Canal from Jordan Creek, intermittent streams |
| Primary outflows | Jack Creek |
| Catchment area | 638 square miles (1,650 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Built | 1913–1914 |
| Surface area | 3,285 acres (1,329 ha) |
| Average depth | 8 feet (2.4 m) |
| Max. depth | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Water volume | 26,300 acre-feet (32.4×106 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 17 miles (27 km) |
| Surface elevation | 4,318 feet (1,316 m) |
| Settlements | Jordan Valley |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Antelope Reservoir is a big lake in southeastern Oregon, USA. It was created to store water for farming in a dry area. The reservoir is close to the small town of Jordan Valley in Malheur County. It's about 10 miles (16 km) west of the Idaho border.
A dam on Jack Creek formed the lake. However, most of its water comes from the Antelope Feeder Canal. This canal brings water from nearby Jordan Creek. Jack Creek flows out of the reservoir and later joins Jordan Creek.
Building the Reservoir
The lake was first made by a dam built on Jack Creek. This dam was 42-foot (13 m) tall. It was constructed between 1913 and 1914. Back then, the water in the reservoir came from small streams that flowed only sometimes.
The Jordan Valley Irrigation District manages the dam. In 1933, the dam was made taller, reaching 80 feet (24 m). This allowed it to hold more water. Now, it also collects water from Jordan Creek. The water from the reservoir helps irrigate about 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) of farmland. This farmland is located downstream from the lake.
Fun at Antelope Reservoir
The Bureau of Land Management takes care of the land around Antelope Reservoir. They have a public campground and a boat ramp at the lake. This makes it a great spot for outdoor activities.
Fishing and Fish Safety
People can go fishing for trout that are put into the lake. Sometimes, wild Columbia River redband trout from Jordan Creek also swim into the reservoir.
However, it's important to know about fish safety. The Oregon Health Authority has warned that fish from the lake have high levels of methylmercury. This mercury comes from old mining activities near Silver City, Idaho. Miners used a lot of mercury to separate gold and silver. Because of this, it is not safe to eat fish caught from Antelope Reservoir.
Other Activities
Even if you don't fish, Antelope Reservoir offers other fun things to do. You can watch different kinds of waterfowl. The lake is also known for its "gorgeous sunsets" and "terrific star-gazing opportunities." It's a peaceful place to visit.
