North Tenmile Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Tenmile Lake |
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North Tenmile Lake from North Lake Road east of Lakeside
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 North Tenmile Lake
Location in Oregon
North Tenmile Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Douglas and Coos counties, near Lakeside |
| Coordinates | 43°34′57″N 124°08′12″W / 43.58250°N 124.13667°W |
| Type | Natural, eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Small creeks |
| Primary outflows | North Lake Canal to Tenmile Lake |
| Catchment area | 29 square miles (75 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,098 acres (444 ha) |
| Average depth | 11 feet (3.4 m) |
| Max. depth | 23 feet (7 m) |
| Water volume | 12,100 acre-feet (14,900,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 2 months |
| Shore length1 | 19 miles (31 km) |
| Surface elevation | 13 feet (4.0 m) |
| Settlements | Reedsport, Lakeside |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
North Tenmile Lake is a beautiful lake located along the Oregon Coast in the United States. It is part of a group of lakes south of the Umpqua River. This chain of lakes also includes Tenmile, Eel, and Clear lakes. All these lakes eventually flow into the Pacific Ocean through Tenmile Creek.
The lake is about 8 miles (13 km) south of Reedsport. It is also about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of U.S. Route 101, near the town of Lakeside. North Tenmile Lake is connected to Tenmile Lake by a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) channel that boats can use. The lake gets its name from Tenmile Creek, which is about 10 miles (16 km) south of Winchester Bay. Winchester Bay was one of the first settlements along this part of the coast.
How North Tenmile Lake Formed
The lakes in the Tenmile Creek area formed a long time ago. After the last ice age, the Earth started to warm up. This caused sea levels to go up. The rising water filled the lower parts of Tenmile Creek and its smaller streams.
Later, sand dunes formed along the coast. These dunes changed how water flowed in the region. This led to the creation of several lakes, including North Tenmile Lake, at different heights within the Tenmile basin.
Changes to the Lake Over Time
In the early 1900s, North Tenmile Lake was a great place for fishing. It had many coastal cutthroat trout, salmon, and steelhead. These are all types of fish that prefer cold water.
However, the area around the lake changed over time. People started logging trees, farming, and changing the paths of streams. Also, new types of fish were brought into the lake, like yellow perch and brown bullhead. These changes made it harder for the cold-water fish to survive.
People tried to bring back the cold-water fish. In 1968, they even used a special chemical called rotenone to clear out unwanted fish from Eel, Tenmile, and North Tenmile lakes. But these efforts did not work. Today, fish like bluegill and largemouth bass are the most common types found in the lake.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
North Tenmile Lake and Tenmile Lake are known as a top spot for catching largemouth bass. These lakes are not very deep and have many twists and turns along their shorelines. Besides largemouth bass, you can also find brown bullhead, bluegill, black crappie, coastal cutthroat trout, and stocked rainbow trout here.
Fishing tournaments for bass are often held at these lakes. Expert anglers can sometimes catch 20 to 50 largemouth bass in a single day. These fish can weigh between 2 to 5 pounds (0.9 to 2.3 kg).
The two lakes are connected by the North Lake Canal. This makes them perfect for many water activities. You can go boating, waterskiing, and swimming.
Near the outlet of Tenmile Lake, in the town of Lakeside, you'll find Tenmile Lakes Park. This park is managed by Coos County. It has everything you need for a fun day out. There are boat ramps and docks for launching boats. You'll also find a fish-cleaning station, picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and restrooms. The park even has a campground where you can stay with recreational vehicles (RVs) or tents.
