McArthur Lake (Idaho) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McArthur Lake |
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 McArthur Lake
Location in Idaho
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| Location | Boundary County, Idaho, USA |
| Coordinates | 48°30′50″N 116°26′59″W / 48.513894°N 116.449696°W |
| Basin countries | USA |
McArthur Lake is a special lake in Boundary County, Idaho, USA. It's actually a reservoir, which is a lake created by a dam. This lake is super important because it's part of the McArthur Lake Wildlife Corridor. Think of this corridor as a natural highway that helps animals travel safely between two big mountain ranges.
The lake and the wet areas around it are home to tons of birds. Because it's so important for wildlife, the area is protected as the McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area. People have even talked about removing the dam that created the lake. This could make the wetlands even better for birds and help clean up the water flowing downstream.
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Where is McArthur Lake?
McArthur Lake is located in Boundary County, Idaho. It covers about 600 acres, which is like 450 football fields! This area is a popular spot for fun outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking.
The lake is a key part of the McArthur Lake Wildlife Corridor. This corridor acts as a vital pathway for animals moving between the Selkirk Mountains and the Cabinet Mountains. Animals like grizzly bears, elk, and wolverine use this route. It helps them reach other important areas like the Idaho Panhandle and the Kootenai National Forest. This corridor is especially important for connecting grizzly bear populations in different recovery zones.
The lake is about 18 miles north of Sandpoint, Idaho and 13 miles south of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Highway 2/95, a main road, runs right past the east side of the lake. In 2009, about 6,600 vehicles drove through this wildlife corridor every day. Sadly, this road was once the top spot in Idaho for animals getting hit by cars. For example, there were 34 such accidents in 2007.
How the Lake Works
McArthur Lake is a reservoir, meaning it holds back water from Deep Creek. Deep Creek flows into the lake from the southwest and leaves from the northeast. Another stream called Dodge Creek also feeds the lake from the northwest.
The dam that creates the lake is a long dirt wall, about 500 feet long. In the middle, there's a concrete spillway about 50 feet wide. A spillway is like a controlled overflow area for water. This spillway has a special "fish ladder." A fish ladder is a series of steps or channels that helps fish swim upstream past the dam. This helps keep the fish population healthy for people who enjoy fishing in the lake.
Deep Creek starts high up near White Mountain. The lake is about 6 miles downstream from where the creek begins. After leaving McArthur Lake, Deep Creek flows north for about 20 miles. It then joins the Kootenay River, which eventually flows into the Columbia River.
The dam has changed the water quality in Deep Creek. Sometimes, the water has too much sediment (dirt particles) and gets too warm. In 2017, Idaho Fish & Game (IDFG) considered removing the dam. This idea was explored to make the wetlands better for waterfowl hunting and to improve the water quality in Deep Creek.
Fish in McArthur Lake
McArthur Lake is not very deep, and its waters can get quite warm. Because of this, fishing here is mostly for "warm water" fish species. These include fish like perch, largemouth bass, and pumpkinseed.
Some special fish called wild adfluvial redband trout use the streams above the dam to lay their eggs. These trout come all the way from Kootenay Lake in British Columbia. However, the warm water in McArthur Lake can make it harder for young fish to survive when they swim downstream.
There are rules about boating on the lake. These rules help protect the plants in the water and the birds that nest there. This means it can sometimes be a bit tricky for anglers (people who fish) to access certain spots.
Sometimes, the lake is drained on purpose. This helps control too much plant growth and makes the area better for producing waterfowl (birds like ducks and geese). Draining the lake can reduce the number of perch, but it also allows the remaining fish to grow bigger.
McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area
The McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area is a protected area that covers 1,207 acres, including the lake itself. It's an amazing place to see all kinds of animals!
Scientists have observed:
- 22 different kinds of fish
- 7 types of amphibians (like frogs and salamanders)
- 6 types of reptiles (like snakes and turtles)
- 45 different kinds of mammals (like deer and bears)
- More than 223 different kinds of birds!
The birds you might see include birds of prey (raptors), birds that live near the shore, songbirds, upland birds, and many kinds of waterbirds and waterfowl.
In the spring and fall, the area is a vital resting stop for many migrating birds. These include Canada geese, American wigeon, mallard, green-winged teal, lesser scaup, common goldeneye, and bufflehead.
In late summer, the site is home to large birds like the American white pelican. You can also spot shorebirds such as killdeer, Wilson's snipe, greater yellowlegs, long-billed dowitcher, western sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, and solitary sandpiper.
Birds that nest and raise their young here include the veery, Swainson's thrush, Vaux's swift, and the majestic bald eagle.
