Detroit Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Detroit Lake |
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Green Bridge over Detroit Lake
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 Detroit Lake
Location in Oregon
Detroit Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Linn / Marion counties, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°41.6′N 122°12.2′W / 44.6933°N 122.2033°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | North Santiam and Breitenbush Rivers |
| Primary outflows | North Santiam River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 9 mi (14.4 km) |
| Max. width | 1 mi (1.6 km) |
| Surface area | 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) |
| Average depth | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Max. depth | 440 ft (130 m) |
| Water volume | 455,000 acre⋅ft (0.561 km3) full, 347 million m³ in summer. |
| Shore length1 | 32 mi (51.4 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,565 ft (477 m) |
| Islands | Piety Knob |
| Settlements | Detroit, Oregon |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Detroit Lake is a large reservoir (a human-made lake) in Oregon, United States. It was created by the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River. The lake is about 46 miles (74 km) southeast of Salem, Oregon.
You can find Detroit Lake right next to Oregon Route 22, close to the city of Detroit. This lake holds water for people living in Salem and other towns nearby.
History of Detroit Lake
Before Detroit Lake was here, an old railroad track ran through this area. This track was part of a big plan by Colonel Thomas Egenton Hogg to build a railroad across the country.
However, he ran out of money, so the tracks stopped at Idanha, Oregon, which is southeast of where the lake is now. Trains used these tracks until the 1950s. Then, the tracks were removed to build the Detroit and Big Cliff reservoirs.
Detroit Lake was finished in 1953 when the dam was completed. The lake was mainly built to help control floods and create electricity. But over time, it has also become a very popular place for fun activities in western Oregon.
About Detroit Lake
When Detroit Lake is completely full, it can hold a huge amount of water. In the summer, when some water is used, it still holds a lot. The lake is located in the North Santiam Canyon. It is about 9 miles (14 km) long. When full, its shoreline stretches for about 32 miles (51 km).
One great place to swim is at the Mongold Day-Use Area, which is an Oregon State Park. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly adds fish to the lake. They stock it with many rainbow trout, along with smaller rainbow trout, sockeye salmon (called kokanee), and chinook salmon. You can also find brown bullhead catfish living naturally in the lake.
You can fish at Detroit Lake all year round. Just make sure you fish in the still lake water, not in or near the rivers and streams that flow into it. Detroit Lake is one of 32 lakes that the United States Forest Service manages for recreation. The lake helps with many things, like stopping floods, saving water, and providing a fun place for people to visit.
There are many places to camp and have fun at Detroit Lake. In 2009, a new boat ramp was built for winter use. This makes it safe to launch a boat even when other ramps are out of the water.
Water Levels at Detroit Lake
The amount of water in Detroit Lake changes. It depends on how much snow falls, how much rain there is, and how much water people in Salem and nearby areas use.
When the water level is low, the surface of the lake is about 1,450 feet (440 m) high. During the full water season, usually from May 1 to September 1, the water can rise about 119 feet (36 m) to an elevation of 1,569 feet (478 m).
In 2015 and 2016, the lake had very low water levels. This made it harder for people to enjoy activities there. It also affected how marinas operated and impacted the local economy in the Santiam Canyon.
