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Summer Lake (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Summer Lake is a large, shallow, alkali lake in Lake County
, Oregon
, United States
. It is approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long and 10 miles (16.1 km) wide, and is located five miles (8 km) south of the small, unincorporated community of Summer Lake, Oregon
. The lake was named by explorer John C. Fremont
on his expedition into Central Oregon
in 1843. The marshes around the lake support a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
Era, vast areas of this region of south central Oregon were covered by lakes and wetlands. As the last ice age was ending, rain and runoff from melting snow filled the lowlands throughout this region of the Great Basin
, creating an immense, freshwater lake called Lake Chewaucan. The lake covered 461 square miles (1,194 km²) at depths of up to 375 feet (114.3 m).
Lake Chewaucan covered the Summer Lake basin and drainage system much of the late Pleistocene Era. The last high water period is thought to have occurred about 13,000 years ago. There is no archaeological evidence of human utilization of Lake Chewaucan during this time. The earliest evidence for possible human occupation of the basin comes from the Paisley Caves
excavated by Luther Cressman
in the late 1930s. Cressman found some inconclusive evidence that humans could have begun occupation the Summer Lake area around 11,000 years ago.
Lake Chewaucan began to dry up at the close of the Pleistocene Era. As it shrank, salts and alkali were concentrated in its remaining waters. The exposed lake bottom sediments were blown by the prevailing westerly winds to form the sand dunes that still lie on the east side Summer Lake.
Today, Summer Lake and Abert Lake are separated by twenty miles, and are the only remnants of Lake Chewaucan. Summer Lake is approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long and 10 miles (16.1 km) wide; however, its only source of fresh water is the small spring-fed Ana River
so the lake shrinks during summer and expands, sometimes dramatically, in spring time.
during his 1843 mapping expedition through central Oregon. Fremont and his Army Topographical team were mapping the Oregon Territory
from The Dalles
on Columbia River
to Sutter's Fort
in Sacramento, California
. On 16 December 1843, the expedition struggled down a steep cliff from a snow-covered plateau to reach a large lake in the valley below. Fremont named snow covered rim "Winter Ridge" and the temperate waters "Summer Lake." Fremont described the discovery and naming of Summer Lake as follows:
"At our feet...more than a thousand feet below...we looked into a green prairie country, in which a beautiful lake, some twenty miles (32 km) in length, was spread along the foot of the mountain...Shivering on snow three feet deep, and stiffening in a cold north wind, we exclaimed at once that the names of summer lake and winter ridge should be applied to these proximate places of such sudden and violent contrast." (Captain John C. Fremont, 16 December 1843, Report of the Second Fremont Expedition)
area.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
maintains the Summer Lake Wildlife Area
on the north side of the lake. The refuge consists of a large wetland
marsh fed by the Ana River with associated high desert
uplands with an 8.3 miles (13.4 km) tour route open to the public most of the year. The refuge headquarters is located adjacent to Oregon Route 31 in the town of Summer Lake
.
Lake County, Oregon
Lake County is a county in the high desert south central region of the U.S. state of Oregon, so named for the many lakes found within its boundaries, including Lake Abert, Hart Lake Reservoir, and Goose Lake. While Lake is among Oregon's largest counties, it is sparsely populated with 7,895...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long and 10 miles (16.1 km) wide, and is located five miles (8 km) south of the small, unincorporated community of Summer Lake, Oregon
Summer Lake, Oregon
Summer Lake is an unincorporated community in northern Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 31 approximately halfway between Bend and Lakeview...
. The lake was named by explorer John C. Fremont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
on his expedition into Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
in 1843. The marshes around the lake support a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
Ancient lake
The arid lands around Summer Lake were once lush. During the PleistocenePleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
Era, vast areas of this region of south central Oregon were covered by lakes and wetlands. As the last ice age was ending, rain and runoff from melting snow filled the lowlands throughout this region of the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
, creating an immense, freshwater lake called Lake Chewaucan. The lake covered 461 square miles (1,194 km²) at depths of up to 375 feet (114.3 m).
Lake Chewaucan covered the Summer Lake basin and drainage system much of the late Pleistocene Era. The last high water period is thought to have occurred about 13,000 years ago. There is no archaeological evidence of human utilization of Lake Chewaucan during this time. The earliest evidence for possible human occupation of the basin comes from the Paisley Caves
Paisley Caves
The Paisley Caves complex is a system of four caves in an arid, desolate region of south-central Oregon, United States. One of the caves may contain archaeological evidence of the oldest definitively-dated human presence in North America. The site was first studied by archeologists in the 1930s...
excavated by Luther Cressman
Luther Cressman
Luther Sheeleigh Cressman was an American anthropologist. He is known as the father of Oregon anthropology....
in the late 1930s. Cressman found some inconclusive evidence that humans could have begun occupation the Summer Lake area around 11,000 years ago.
Lake Chewaucan began to dry up at the close of the Pleistocene Era. As it shrank, salts and alkali were concentrated in its remaining waters. The exposed lake bottom sediments were blown by the prevailing westerly winds to form the sand dunes that still lie on the east side Summer Lake.
Today, Summer Lake and Abert Lake are separated by twenty miles, and are the only remnants of Lake Chewaucan. Summer Lake is approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long and 10 miles (16.1 km) wide; however, its only source of fresh water is the small spring-fed Ana River
Ana River
The Ana River is a short spring-fed river in south-central Oregon. It is on the northwestern edge of the Great Basin drainage. It flows from springs at the foot of Winter Ridge through high desert, range, and wetlands before emptying into Summer Lake...
so the lake shrinks during summer and expands, sometimes dramatically, in spring time.
Discovery
Summer Lake was discovered and named by Captain John C. FrémontJohn C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
during his 1843 mapping expedition through central Oregon. Fremont and his Army Topographical team were mapping the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
from The Dalles
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
on Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
to Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. On 16 December 1843, the expedition struggled down a steep cliff from a snow-covered plateau to reach a large lake in the valley below. Fremont named snow covered rim "Winter Ridge" and the temperate waters "Summer Lake." Fremont described the discovery and naming of Summer Lake as follows:
"At our feet...more than a thousand feet below...we looked into a green prairie country, in which a beautiful lake, some twenty miles (32 km) in length, was spread along the foot of the mountain...Shivering on snow three feet deep, and stiffening in a cold north wind, we exclaimed at once that the names of summer lake and winter ridge should be applied to these proximate places of such sudden and violent contrast." (Captain John C. Fremont, 16 December 1843, Report of the Second Fremont Expedition)
Wildlife refuge
The Summer Lake Basin supports more than 250 species of birds including bald eagles, Canada geese, white faced ibis, yellow-headed blackbirds, goshawks, hermit thrushes, red-tail hawks, great blue herons, and numerous species of ducks. This makes Summer Lake a favorite bird watching and huntingHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
area.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
maintains the Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Summer Lake Wildlife Area
The Summer Lake Wildlife Area is a wildlife refuge located on the northwestern edge of the Great Basin drainage in south-central Oregon. It is administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The refuge is an important stop for waterfowl traveling along the Pacific Flyway during...
on the north side of the lake. The refuge consists of a large wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
marsh fed by the Ana River with associated high desert
High Desert (Oregon)
The Oregon High Desert is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon, located east of the Cascade Range and south of the Blue Mountains, in the central and eastern parts of the state. Divided into a southern region and a northern region, the desert covers most of five Oregon counties and averages above...
uplands with an 8.3 miles (13.4 km) tour route open to the public most of the year. The refuge headquarters is located adjacent to Oregon Route 31 in the town of Summer Lake
Summer Lake, Oregon
Summer Lake is an unincorporated community in northern Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 31 approximately halfway between Bend and Lakeview...
.