Wickiup Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wickiup Reservoir |
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Aerial view of Wickiup Reservoir
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 Wickiup Reservoir
Location in Oregon
Wickiup Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Deschutes County, near La Pine, Oregon, US |
| Coordinates | 43°41′25″N 121°41′54″W / 43.69028°N 121.69833°W |
| Primary inflows | Deschutes River |
| Primary outflows | Deschutes River |
| Catchment area | 253 sq mi (660 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 10,334 acres (4,182 ha) |
| Average depth | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Max. depth | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Water volume | 206,880 acre⋅ft (255,180,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 5 months |
| Shore length1 | 50.5 mi (81.3 km) |
| Surface elevation | 4,338 ft (1,322 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Wickiup Reservoir is a big lake in Oregon, the second largest of its kind! It's about 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Bend. This reservoir is the biggest of the beautiful Cascade Lakes. You'll find it near other cool spots like Twin Lakes, Davis Lake, and Crane Prairie Reservoir. It's also inside the Deschutes National Forest, close to the scenic Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.
How Wickiup Reservoir Was Made
Wickiup Reservoir was created by building a dam on the Deschutes River. The Wickiup Dam was finished in 1949. It was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation for a project called "Deschutes Project." This project also included the "Pringle Falls Experimental Forest," which is used for learning and research. Other dams nearby are the Crane Prairie Dam and the Haystack Dam. The Wickiup Dam is made of earth and is about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long. The Deschutes River starts at Little Lava Lake and flows into and out of Wickiup Reservoir.
Fishing Fun
The reservoir is usually about 20 feet (6.1 m) deep. But in some channels, it can be as deep as 70 feet (21 m)! Because of its depth, fishing is super popular here. Many people come to catch brown trout. Wickiup Reservoir is known as the best place in Oregon for brown trout fishing. The trout often weigh between 5 and 8 pounds (2.3 and 3.6 kg). Some really big ones can even weigh over 20 pounds (9.1 kg)!
Wildlife and Nature
The United States Forest Service says that Wickiup Reservoir is one of the best places in Central Oregon to see wildlife. You might spot many different animals and plants here. Some of the nature you can find includes waterfowl (like ducks and geese), shorebirds, and hoofed mammals (like deer). You'll also see lots of trees, especially ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine.
Things to Do
There are many fun things to do at Wickiup Reservoir. You can find six campgrounds right there. All of these campgrounds have a boat ramp, toilets, and fresh water. It's a great spot for camping, boating, and enjoying the outdoors.
Staying Safe
On August 12, 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services shared an important health warning. This was because of a large algae bloom in the reservoir. They said that drinking water from Wickiup Reservoir was not safe. This was true even if the water was boiled or treated. If people used water from the lake for drinking, they needed to find another safe source. It's always important to check for safety warnings before using water from natural sources.
