Fern Ridge Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fern Ridge Reservoir |
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 Fern Ridge Reservoir
Location in Oregon
Fern Ridge Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lane County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44°07′14″N 123°17′54″W / 44.12056°N 123.29833°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Long Tom River |
| Primary outflows | Long Tom River |
| Catchment area | 275 sq mi (710 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) |
| Surface area | 9,360 acres (3,790 ha) |
| Average depth | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Max. depth | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Water volume | 101,200 acre⋅ft (124,800 dam3) |
| Residence time | 3 months |
| Shore length1 | 30.1 mi (48.4 km) |
| Surface elevation | 353–370 ft (108–113 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Fern Ridge Reservoir, also known as Fern Ridge Lake, is a large man-made lake in Oregon, United States. It was created on the Long Tom River. You can find it about 12 miles (19 km) west of Eugene.
This reservoir is a special project built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Their main job here is to help control floods. The area around the reservoir is huge, covering more than 12,000 acres (49 km²). It's a very popular spot for fun activities like boating, fishing, and birdwatching.
Around parts of the reservoir, there's a place called the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. This is a protected area where animals can live safely. It's a unique home for many different kinds of animals, especially waterfowl (like ducks and geese) during the winter.
Fern Ridge Dam
The Fern Ridge Dam was finished in 1942. It is one of 13 dams in the Willamette Valley that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages. These dams are called "multi-purpose" because they serve many different uses.
The Fern Ridge Dam helps with several important things:
- Flood control: It stops rivers from overflowing and causing floods.
- Irrigation: It provides water for farms to grow crops.
- Recreation: It creates a lake for people to enjoy.
- Navigation: It helps boats move more easily on the river.
- Water quality: It improves the cleanliness of the water downstream.
The water level in the reservoir is kept high from May through September. This is so people can enjoy boating and other water activities.
During the summer, the water level is slowly lowered. This helps provide water for farms that need it. After September, the water is lowered even more. This creates space in the reservoir to hold extra water. This is very important during the rainy season in the Willamette Valley. It helps prevent floods downstream.
In 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did a big repair job on the Fern Ridge Dam. They fixed the inside drainage system and rebuilt parts of the dam itself.
Recreation
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Fern Ridge Lake has many parks and yacht clubs. Some are private, and others are managed by the county.
In the summer afternoons, strong winds usually blow from the north. These winds are quite reliable and last until dusk. Because of these steady winds, Fern Ridge has become a favorite place for sailing. The Eugene Yacht Club often hosts sailing races and championships here every year.
