Nada Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nada Lake |
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 Nada Lake
Location in Washington (state)
Nada Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chelan County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°29′46″N 120°44′20″W / 47.4960919°N 120.7387930°W |
| Primary outflows | Snow Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 4,898 ft (1,493 m) |
Nada Lake is a beautiful freshwater lake located high up in the mountains of Washington state. It's found on the eastern side of a special area called The Enchantments, in Chelan County. This lake is actually a reservoir, which means its water level can be controlled. To visit the area around Nada Lake, you need a special permit called an Alpine Lakes Wilderness permit.
Contents
History of Nada Lake
Early People and Settlers
Scientists have found old evidence that Native American groups lived around Nada Lake a very long time ago. This was at least 12,000 years ago! The lake is in the traditional homeland of the Wenatchi people. They are now part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation. The land is also within the area used by the Yakama Nation.
In the 1800s, people from Europe and America started coming to this area. Many were fur trappers. After the Treaty of 1855, the Wenatchi people moved to the Yakama and Colville Reservations. Then, Chinese immigrants came to search for gold. Other settlers from Europe and America worked in logging and farming.
Building the Dam
In 1930, a group called the Icicle Irrigation District wanted to use water from Nada Lake. They needed it to water farms during the dry season. They also asked for permission to make the lake levels higher. This was because there wasn't enough water for irrigation in the summer.
The dam on Nada Lake was finished in 1940. It was later made bigger in 1941 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. This allowed more water to be used for watering about 7,000 acres of farmland. Nada Lake also provides water for the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery.
Lake Ownership
Today, Nada Lake and the nearby Snow Lakes system are managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1939, the Bureau of Reclamation gained rights to parts of the land next to Snow and Nada Lakes. These rights were given to the U.S. Forest Service in 1949. The Forest Service now owns about 1,084 acres around Upper Snow, Lower Snow, and Nada Lakes.
How Water Flows in Nada Lake
Water Movement
Water from Upper Snow Lake flows through a special valve from July to October. It then goes down a rocky area into Nada Lake. From Nada Lake, water is released into Snow Creek. Snow Creek then flows into Icicle Creek. If there is a lot of water in Upper Snow Lake, it can also flow over a small dam into Lower Snow Lake.
How Nada Lake is Used
Water for Farms and Fish
Nada Lake is managed by the Icicle and Peshastin Irrigation Districts (IPID). They use the lake to store water for irrigation (watering crops). They also use it for raising fish. The lake collects water from a large area called the Icicle Creek drainage basin. This means the lake usually gets refilled with water, even in dry years.
The lake has a small dam made of rocks and earth. This dam helps control how much water is released. It lets out stored water to add to the flow of Icicle Creek. This is very helpful during late summer when water levels are usually low. Between 1994 and 2005, the Snow Lakes system could store about 8,600 acre-feet of water. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep.
Supporting Fish Hatcheries
The Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery gets its water from Icicle Creek and from wells. It also gets about 50 cubic feet per second of water from the Snow Lakes and Nada Lake. This hatchery helps make up for the fish that were lost when the Grand Coulee Dam was built. The hatchery has a steady water supply all year. This helps them raise 1.2 million fish every year.
How to Visit Nada Lake
Getting There
You can reach Nada Lake by hiking a trail. The trail starts off Icicle Creek Road (USFS Road 7600). This is about 5.5 miles southwest of Leavenworth. The trail crosses Icicle Creek over a bridge. Then, it starts to climb up a rocky canyon.
The trail will first lead you to Nada Lake. This part of the hike is about 5.5 miles long from the trailhead. There is also another part of the trail that goes from Nada Lake to the Snow Lakes. This second part starts on the southeast shore of Nada Lake. Remember, you need a self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit to hike in the Snow Lakes area.
