Prineville Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prineville Reservoir |
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 Prineville Reservoir
Location in Oregon
Prineville Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Crook County, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°06′36″N 120°47′08″W / 44.11000°N 120.78556°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Crooked River, Bear Creek, Sanford Creek, Deer Creek, Alkali Creek, Antelope Creek, Owl Creek |
| Primary outflows | Crooked River |
| Catchment area | 2,635 sq mi (6,825 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 3,030 acres (12 km2) |
| Max. depth | 130 ft (39.6 m) |
| Water volume | 150,200 acre⋅ft (185,300,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 43 mi (69.2 km) |
| Surface elevation | 3,257 ft (993 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Prineville Reservoir is a large, human-made lake in the high desert hills of Central Oregon, Oregon, United States. It is located about 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of the town of Prineville. This beautiful reservoir is a very popular place for people to visit and enjoy the outdoors. It's also quite close to the geographic center of Oregon. The state park here is managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
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About Prineville Reservoir
Prineville Reservoir was created by building a large wall, called the Arthur R. Bowman Dam, across the Crooked River. This project was finished in 1961. The dam and reservoir are owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. They help manage the water for farms and prevent floods.
How the Reservoir Was Made
When the dam was built, it flooded a canyon filled with juniper trees and sagebrush plants. The reservoir now covers about 18 miles (29 km) of the Crooked River. Its main job is to store water for irrigation, which means providing water for farms. It also helps control floods on the Crooked River.
Size and Wildlife Area
Prineville Reservoir can hold over 150,000 acre-feet (190,000,000 m3) of water. At its deepest point, it is about 130 feet (40 m) deep. A special area at the northeast end of the reservoir is set aside for wildlife. This area, which includes 3,800 acres (15 km2) of land and water, provides a safe home for many different animals.
Fun Activities at the Reservoir
Prineville Reservoir is a great place for many outdoor adventures.
Fishing Adventures
Fishing at the reservoir can be really exciting! You can catch many types of fish, including rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. You might even find crayfish. You can fish all year long, even ice fish in the winter when the lake freezes over.
Boating Fun
There is no speed limit on the lake, which makes it perfect for all kinds of boating. Many people love to go water skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing here. About half of the boats on the lake are there for these fun water sports. There is also a marina with a boat ramp where you can launch your boat.
Camping and Staying Overnight
If you want to stay longer, there are two state parks where you can camp: Prineville Reservoir State Park and Jasper State Recreation Site. Both parks have good facilities and offer hookups for RVs. There is also a private resort nearby. This resort has cabins for rent, campsites with hookups, a boat ramp, a marina, a general store, and a restaurant.
Amazing Wildlife
Prineville Reservoir is a fantastic spot to see many different kinds of animals, especially birds.
Birds of the Reservoir
During spring and fall, you can see many waterfowl (like ducks and geese) and shorebirds as they migrate. Some birds you might spot include the common loon, blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, spotted sandpiper, American avocet, and black-necked stilt.
You can also see many impressive birds of prey soaring above. Look for the majestic bald eagle, golden eagle, osprey, prairie falcon, and red-tailed hawk. Other birds in the area include the black-throated gray warbler, pinyon jay, ash-throated flycatcher, orange-crowned warbler, and gray catbird.
Other Animals You Might See
Besides birds, many other animals live around Prineville Reservoir. You might see bats flying at dusk, or larger animals like black bears, coyotes, red fox, gray fox, bobcat, lynx, and even mountain lions.
There are also hoofed animals such as mule deer, elk, black tailed deer, and pronghorn. Smaller mammals include badgers, striped skunks, spotted skunks, porcupines, rockchucks, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons. You can also find various snakes, other reptiles, and amphibians in the area.
