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Cultus Lake (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Cultus Lake is a lake
in Deschutes County
, Oregon
. Formed by a glacier
, it is located in the high Cascade Range
in the Deschutes National Forest. The name is from the Chinook Jargon, and means variously bad or worthless, or simply "in vain".
In the early 19th century, the lakes in this area abounded with beavers. The earliest explorers to this area were primarily on a quest for furs.
Cultus Lake lies at the base of the Cultus Mountain. The lake itself is natural and is 211 feet (64.3 m) at its deepest point and about two miles long. Two species of fish inhabit the lake: rainbow trout
and mackinaw
usually caught with flatfish
or anything shiny like a minnow
.
The lake also has a creek
running into it inhabited by young fish and minnows, a popular fly fishing
spot. The lake has a twin lake called Little Cultus Lake
and the lakes are divided by Cultus Mountain.
The area around Cultus Lake is known for its old growth large Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir
and western White Pine
, sometimes rising to 120 feet (36.6 m) tall. However, according to the U.S. Fish and Wild Game Service, the large pines are being weakened by competing understory
fir
trees and pine beetle
attacks. If the trend is not reversed, there will be a shift in tree species (and tree size) from pines and Douglas-fir to white-firs.
The Service is recommending the selective thinning
of white fir understory trees around selected ponderosa and western white pine to increase light, and the availability of nutrient
s, allowing the selected pines to grow more vigorously and increase their resistance to bark beetles.
The lake has a resort with 23 cabins, a lodge with a restaurant and store. There are also three other campsites for people to set up tents or park RV's.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Deschutes County
Deschutes County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Deschutes National Forest * Newberry National Volcanic Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 115,367 people, 45,595 households, and 31,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 54,583...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Formed by a glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
, it is located in the high Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
in the Deschutes National Forest. The name is from the Chinook Jargon, and means variously bad or worthless, or simply "in vain".
In the early 19th century, the lakes in this area abounded with beavers. The earliest explorers to this area were primarily on a quest for furs.
Description
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
and mackinaw
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
usually caught with flatfish
Flatfish
The flatfish are an order of ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. In many species, both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through and around the head during development...
or anything shiny like a minnow
Minnow
Minnow is a general term used to refer to small freshwater and saltwater fish, especially those used as bait fish or for fishing bait. More specifically, it refers to small freshwater fish of the carp family.-True minnows:...
.
The lake also has a creek
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
running into it inhabited by young fish and minnows, a popular fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
spot. The lake has a twin lake called Little Cultus Lake
Little Cultus Lake
Little Cultus Lake is a natural lake in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. Near its larger and more popular twin Cultus Lake to the north on the other side of Cultus Mountain, it is located in the Deschutes National Forest in the Cascade Range...
and the lakes are divided by Cultus Mountain.
The area around Cultus Lake is known for its old growth large Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
and western White Pine
Western White Pine
Western White Pine, Pinus monticola in the family Pinaceae, is a species of pine that occurs in the mountains of the western United States and Canada, specifically the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, the Coast Range, and the northern Rocky Mountains. The tree extends down to sea level in many...
, sometimes rising to 120 feet (36.6 m) tall. However, according to the U.S. Fish and Wild Game Service, the large pines are being weakened by competing understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
trees and pine beetle
Mountain pine beetle
The mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae, is a species of bark beetle native to the forests of western North America from Mexico to central British Columbia. It has a hard black exoskeleton, and measures about 5 millimeters, about the size of a grain of rice.Mountain pine beetles inhabit...
attacks. If the trend is not reversed, there will be a shift in tree species (and tree size) from pines and Douglas-fir to white-firs.
The Service is recommending the selective thinning
Thinning
Thinning is a term used in agricultural sciences to mean the removal of some plants, or parts of plants, to make room for the growth of others.- Forestry :...
of white fir understory trees around selected ponderosa and western white pine to increase light, and the availability of nutrient
Nutrient
A nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. They are used to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are converted to and used as energy...
s, allowing the selected pines to grow more vigorously and increase their resistance to bark beetles.
Management policies
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the lake for the natural and hatchery production of rainbow trout and brook trout. They also manage the natural production of Mountain Whitefish and lake trout.Amenities
Cultus is a recreational lake and is also popular for water skiing, sailing, jet skiing and boating.The lake has a resort with 23 cabins, a lodge with a restaurant and store. There are also three other campsites for people to set up tents or park RV's.