Curlew Lake (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curlew Lake |
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Looking south down the lake
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 Curlew Lake
Location in Washington (state)
Curlew Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northeast of Republic, Ferry County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 48°43′50″N 118°39′50″W / 48.73056°N 118.66389°W |
| Type | Oligo-mesotrophic glacial kettle lake |
| Primary inflows | Sanpoil River, Herron Creek, Barrett Creek, Trout Creek |
| Primary outflows | Curlew Creek |
| Catchment area | 64.50 sq mi (167.1 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Max. width | Varies no more than 0.33 mi (0.53 km) |
| Surface area | 921 acres (373 ha) |
| Average depth | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Max. depth | 130 ft (40 m) |
| Water volume | 39,603 acre⋅ft (48,850,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 15.8 mi (25.4 km) |
| Surface elevation | 2,333 ft (711 m) |
| Islands | 4 |
| Settlements | Republic |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Curlew Lake is a beautiful lake covering about 921-acre (3.73 km2) in northeastern Republic, Washington. It sits in a valley carved by glaciers long ago. The lake gets its water from springs and streams. It was named after the long-billed curlew, a type of bird that used to live in the area.
This 7-mile-long (11 km) lake is about 1⁄3 of a mile wide at its widest point. It also has four small islands. The lake is about 43 ft (13 m) deep on average, but its deepest spot, in the northern part, goes down to 130 ft (40 m).
Curlew Lake is a great place for outdoor fun! You can enjoy many activities here, like kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, canoeing, and sailing. There's a public access point at Curlew Lake State Park at the lake's south end, making it easy for everyone to visit.
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The Lake's Water Level
The water level of Curlew Lake has changed over time. Early measurements in the 1900s helped set the official water level. In 1926, a small dam was built at the north end of the lake. This dam helped keep the water level steady. It lowered the lake's surface to 2,333 ft (711 m), which was 12 ft (3.7 m) lower than its original recorded level in 1901.
Amazing Fish in Curlew Lake
Curlew Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. Some are native to the area, while others have been introduced. Here are some of the fish you might find:
- Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
- Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
- Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
- Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy X Esox lucius)
- Northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis), also called squawfish
Why are Tiger Muskellunge in the Lake?
Tiger muskellunge are a special type of fish. They were first put into Curlew Lake in 1997. These fish were raised at the Columbia Basin Fish Hatchery. Their main job in the lake is to help control the population of northern pikeminnow. This helps keep the lake's ecosystem balanced.
Unique Snails and Mussels
Curlew Lake is also important for some very special and rare creatures. Several types of native mollusks, which are soft-bodied animals like snails and mussels, live here. Some of these are now listed as species of concern. This means they need protection because their populations are very low.
The California Floater
The California floater (Anodonta californiensis) is a type of mussel. It used to be found all over Washington and in other parts of the Western United States. Now, its range in Washington is very small, limited to Curlew Lake and just three other places. Because of this big drop in numbers, it's considered a species of concern by both state and federal groups.
Rare Snails: Masked and Washington Duskysnails
Two types of snails, the masked duskysnail (Lyogyrus) and the Washington duskysnail (Amnicola), are also found here. These snails are very rare. They are only found in two glacial kettle lakes in Washington: Fish Lake in Okanogan County and Curlew Lake.
Scientists believe these snails once lived in many glacial lakes, from the Cascades to the Rockies. Today, the Washington duskysnail is found in only one place outside of Washington. Both snails are on state and federal watchlists. They are considered critically imperiled, meaning they are at very high risk of disappearing forever.
Special Weevils and Milfoil
Curlew Lake is one of a few lakes in Eastern Washington that has a population of Euhrychiopsis lecontei, also known as the milfoil weevil. These tiny weevils feed on a native plant called northern milfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum). This is a natural way to help manage the plant growth in the lake.
