Mosquito Creek Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mosquito Creek Lake |
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 Mosquito Creek Lake
Location in Ohio
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| Location | Trumbull County, Ohio, US |
| Coordinates | 41°22′16″N 80°45′18″W / 41.37111°N 80.75500°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Mosquito Creek |
| Primary outflows | Mosquito Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 9.5 mi (15.3 km) |
| Max. width | 0.75 mi (1.21 km) |
| Surface area | 7,850 acres (3,180 ha) |
| Max. depth | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Surface elevation | 899 ft (274 m) |
Mosquito Creek Lake is a large, man-made lake in Trumbull County, in northeast Ohio, USA. It used to be called Mosquito Creek Reservoir. This lake is about 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Warren. It gets its water from two streams: Mosquito Creek and Walnut Creek. The lake was finished in 1944.
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About Mosquito Creek Lake
Mosquito Creek Lake is the second-largest inland lake in Ohio. It was created by building a dam. The lake's depth changes with the seasons, usually from 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.6 m) deep. Near the dam at the southern end, it can be deeper, around 20 to 25 feet (6.1 to 7.6 m). The northern part of the lake is much shallower, often only 4 to 10 feet (1.2 to 3.0 m) deep.
The entire lake is surrounded by Mosquito Lake State Park. A road called Ohio State Route 88 goes right across the middle of the lake. The area that drains water into the lake covers about 97.4 square miles (252 km²).
How Mosquito Creek Lake Was Made
Plans for Mosquito Creek Lake started in the 1930s. The lake was built mainly to control floods and help keep the water level steady in nearby rivers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished building the dam in April 1944.
This lake helps protect areas like the upper Ohio River, Beaver River, and the Mahoning River valley from floods. It was also meant to help reduce pollution from local steel factories and provide water for the city of Warren. In 1971, the lake's official name was changed from Mosquito Creek Reservoir to Mosquito Creek Lake.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
Mosquito Creek Lake is a great place for outdoor activities because it's surrounded by Mosquito Lake State Park. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages the park.
You can enjoy:
- Picnics and camping
- Hiking on special trails
- Boating, with options to rent boats or use boat ramps
- Renting docks for your own boat
Fishing is very popular here! Many people like to fish for flathead catfish. Other types of fish you can catch include bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, ring perch, and walleye.
Wildlife and Environmental Concerns
The northern part of Mosquito Creek Lake is a special protected area for waterfowl (birds that live on water). To keep these birds safe, boating and fishing are not allowed in these specific areas.
There have been some worries about invasive species, like the Asian carp, possibly reaching Lake Erie from Mosquito Creek Lake. However, experts believe this is unlikely to happen. Another invasive species, Zebra mussels, has grown a lot in the lake. These mussels make the water clearer than usual, which allows water plants to grow more easily.
When the lake was first built, its water was considered very clean. But over time, pollution from nearby homes has become a concern.
