Blue River Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue River Reservoir |
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 Blue River Reservoir
Location in Oregon
Blue River Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lane County, Oregon, about 42 miles (68 km) east of Springfield |
| Coordinates | 44°10′19″N 122°19′49″W / 44.17194°N 122.33028°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Blue River |
| Primary outflows | Blue River |
| Catchment area | 88 sq mi (230 km2) |
| Max. length | 6.4 mi (10.3 km) |
| Surface area | 935 acres (378 ha), 1,420 acres (570 ha) when full |
| Average depth | 91 ft (28 m) |
| Max. depth | 248 ft (76 m) |
| Water volume | 85,000 acre⋅ft (105,000,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 3 months |
| Shore length1 | 17 mi (27 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,350 ft (410 m) |
| Settlements | Blue River, an unincorporated community |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Blue River Reservoir is a human-made lake, about 6 miles (10 km) long. It was created on the Blue River in Lane County, which is in the state of Oregon. This reservoir is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Oregon Route 126. You can find it within the Willamette National Forest, about 45 miles (72 km) east of Eugene.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers built this reservoir in 1968. They constructed two dams, Blue Lake Dam and Saddle Dam, near where the Blue River meets the McKenzie River. The main reasons for building the reservoir were to help control floods and provide water for farming. Even though there are sometimes many tiny plant-like organisms called blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in the lake, it is a very popular spot for fun activities. The main type of fish found here is trout, and more fish are added from local hatcheries.
Fun Things to Do at Blue River Reservoir
Blue River Reservoir is a great place for outdoor activities. Many people come here to go fishing, boating, swimming, and waterskiing.
Campgrounds and Boat Launches
The United States Forest Service helps manage the area around the reservoir. They look after two campgrounds:
- Mona Campground, which is on the north side of the lake.
- Lookout Campground, located on the northeast side.
There are also two places where you can launch boats. One is close to Lookout Campground, and the other is near Saddle Dam on the south shore. These launches are for both motorized boats and boats that don't use motors, like kayaks or canoes.
Fishing at the Reservoir
If you enjoy fishing, Blue River Reservoir is home to different kinds of trout. You can find native coastal cutthroat trout here. The lake also has rainbow trout that are added from special fish farms called hatcheries.
