Blue River Reservoir

Blue River Reservoir is an artificial impoundment, about 6 miles (10 km) long, of the Blue River in Lane County in the U.S. state of Oregon.[2][5] The reservoir is about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Oregon Route 126 in the Willamette National Forest about 45 miles (72 km) east of Eugene.[1]

Blue River Reservoir
Blue River Reservoir
Blue River Reservoir
LocationLane County, Oregon, about 42 miles (68 km) east of Springfield
Coordinates44°10′19″N 122°19′49″W
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsBlue River
Primary outflowsBlue River
Catchment area88 sq mi (230 km2)
Max. length6.4 mi (10.3 km)
Surface area935 acres (378 ha), 1,420 acres (570 ha) when full
Average depth91 ft (28 m)
Max. depth248 ft (76 m)
Water volume85,000 acre⋅ft (105,000,000 m3)[1]
Residence time3 months[1]
Shore length117 mi (27 km)[1]
Surface elevation1,350 ft (410 m)[1]
SettlementsBlue River, an unincorporated community
References[2][3][4]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

In 1968 the United States Army Corps of Engineers built Blue Lake Dam and Saddle Dam about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the mouth of the Blue River on the McKenzie River to create a reservoir for flood control and irrigation.[1][6] Despite frequent blooms of blue-green algae,[7][8] the lake is heavily used for recreation.[4] Trout are the principal fish, supplemented from local hatcheries.[2]

Recreation

Blue River Reservoir is used for fishing, boating, swimming, and waterskiing.[1] The United States Forest Service manages Mona Campground, on the north side of the reservoir, and Lookout Campground, on the northeast side.[4] The Forest Service also manages two launching sites for motorized and non-motorized boats, one near Lookout Campground and the other near Saddle Dam on the south shore.[4] The reservoir supports populations of native coastal cutthroat trout and stocked rainbow trout.[2]

See also
  • List of lakes in Oregon

References
  1. Johnson, Daniel M.; Petersen, Richard R.; Lycan, D. Richard; Sweet, James W.; Neuhaus, Mark E. & Schaedel, Andrew L. (1985). Atlas of Oregon Lakes. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. p. 157. ISBN 0-87071-343-4.
  2. "Willamette National Forest Lake Fishing: Blue River Reservoir". U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.
  3. "Blue River Dam and Reservoir". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Columbia Basin Water Management Division. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  4. "Blue River Reservoir Area". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  5. "Blue River Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. May 22, 1986. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  6. "Blue River Lake and Cougar Lake, Oregon" (PDF). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  7. Russell, Michael (September 10, 2010). "Blue-Green Algae Found in Blue River Reservoir in Willamette National Forest". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  8. Stone, Christine (September 10, 2010). "Oregon Public Health Issues Advisory for Blue River Reservoir" (PDF). Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
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