kids encyclopedia robot

Cottage Grove Lake facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Cottage Grove Lake
View upstream of a grass-covered dam impounding a lake
Cottage Grove Dam and Lake
Cottage Grove Lake is in west-central Oregon
Cottage Grove Lake is in west-central Oregon
Cottage Grove Lake
Location in Oregon
Cottage Grove Lake is in west-central Oregon
Cottage Grove Lake is in west-central Oregon
Cottage Grove Lake
Location in the United States
Location Lane County, Oregon, United States
Coordinates 43°42′55″N 123°03′02″W / 43.71528°N 123.05056°W / 43.71528; -123.05056
Type Mesotrophic reservoir
Primary inflows Coast Fork Willamette River
Primary outflows Coast Fork Willamette River
Catchment area 106 square miles (270 km2)
Basin countries United States
Managing agency U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Max. length 3 miles (4.8 km)
Surface area 1,025.9 acres (415.2 ha)
Average depth 29 feet (8.8 m)
Max. depth 73 feet (22 m)
Water volume 33,000 acre-feet (41,000,000 m3)
Residence time 2 months
Shore length1 10.6 miles (17.1 km)
Surface elevation 794 feet (242 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Cottage Grove Lake is a man-made lake, also called a reservoir. It is located in Lane County, Oregon, in the United States. This lake is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long. It was created on the Coast Fork Willamette River.

About Cottage Grove Dam

The Cottage Grove Dam holds back the water to form Cottage Grove Lake. This dam is very big! It stretches about 1,750 feet (533 meters) long. It also stands about 95 feet (29 meters) tall.

Building the Dam

The dam was finished in 1942. It was one of 13 dams built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. These dams were constructed in the Willamette River basin. The dam is about 5 miles (8 km) south of the town of Cottage Grove.

Why the Dam Was Built

The main reason for building Cottage Grove Dam was to help control floods. It works with another dam, the Dorena Dam, to manage river levels. Dorena Dam is on the Row River, which flows into the Coast Fork Willamette River.

Besides flood control, the dam also helps supply water. This water is used for farming and to make it easier for boats to travel on the river.

Fun at Cottage Grove Lake

Cottage Grove Lake and the areas around it are great for outdoor activities. Many people visit for recreation. You can enjoy things like boating on the lake.

There are also places for camping and picnicking. Fishing is a popular activity here. If you like watching birds, you might spot many different kinds of birds around the lake.

kids search engine
Cottage Grove Lake Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.