Devils Lake (Lincoln County, Oregon)

Devils Lake is a small lake in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States, along the Oregon Coast.[1] It separates the northern part of Lincoln City from the Central Oregon Coast Range. It is 1/3 of a mile wide, three miles (5 km) long, and up to 21 feet (6.4 m) deep. The D River flows from the lake westward to the Pacific Ocean. At 120 feet (37 m), it is one of the world's shortest rivers.

Devils Lake
The lake from D River
Devils Lake Show map of Oregon Devils Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Lincoln County, Oregon
Coordinates	44.9824095°N 123.9921317°W / 44.9824095; -123.9921317[1]
Lake type	eutrophic
Primary inflows	Rock Creek, Thompson Creek
Primary outflows	D River
Catchment area	12 sq mi (31 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	3 mi (4.8 km)
Max. width	0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Surface area	680 acres (280 ha)
Average depth	8.4 ft (2.6 m)
Max. depth	21.1 ft (6.4 m)
Water volume	5,750 acre⋅ft (7,090,000 m3)
Residence time	0.15 years
Surface elevation	10.4 ft (3.2 m)
Settlements	Lincoln City

Devils Lake from above the Pacific Ocean

According to Oregon Geographic Names, the name derives from a Native American legend. In the legend, a giant fish, giant octopus, or other large marine creature would occasionally surface, much to the dismay of anyone fishing in the vicinity.

The lake is managed by the Devils Lake Water Improvement District. The Preservation Association of Devils Lake (PADL) was founded in 1982. According to the organization's website, its mission is:

To correct, protect and preserve the water resources and other natural assets of Devils Lake from misuse and pollution. To encourage the improvement of the overall environmental and economic use of the lake as a recreational, scenic asset for all time to the entire Lincoln City area.