Wickiup Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Wickiup Reservoir is the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It is located 60 miles (96.6 km) southwest of Bend
, and is the largest of the Cascade Lakes
. Wickiup Reservoir is close to Twin Lakes
, Davis Lake
, Crane Prairie Reservoir
, Cultus Lake
, and Little Cultus Lake. The reservoir
is located within the Deschutes National Forest
and the Fort Rock Ranger District, near the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
.
Like nearby Crane Prairie Reservoir, Wickiup Reservoir was created by damming of the Deschutes River. The Wickiup Dam was built in 1949 for the "Deschutes Project" and "Pringle Falls Experimental Forest", which is used for education and research. Other nearby dams include the Crane Prairie Dam and Haystack Dam. The dam is 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long.
The average depth of the reservoir is 20 feet (6.1 m), with depths up to 70 feet (21.3 m) in channels. Because of this, fishing is very popular in the lake, especially for brown trout
, which is dubbed as the best fishing for brown trout in the state, which average between 5 pounds (2.3 kg) to 8 pounds (3.6 kg), but some reach over 20 pounds (9.1 kg).
According to the United States Forest Service
, Wickiup Reservoir is one of Central Oregon's best wildlife viewing areas. Some of the nature that thrives in the area include waterfowl
, shorebirds, hoofed mammals, ponderosa pine
, and lodgepole pine
.
Also at Wickiup Reservoir are several recreation options. There are six campgrounds on site, all of which include a boat ramp, toilets and water. In a 5 miles (8 km) area, there are also several geocaches.
On August 12, 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services
issued a health advisory due to a large algae bloom. They mentioned that "drinking water from Wickiup Reservoir was dangerous, even if boiled or treated" and that anyone who relies on the water from the lake should find an alternate source.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. It is located 60 miles (96.6 km) southwest of Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
, and is the largest of the Cascade Lakes
Cascade Lakes
The Cascade Lakes are a collection of lakes in central Oregon in the United States of America. They include Elk Lake, Hosmer Lake, Lava Lake, Cultus Lake, North and South Twin Lakes, as well as Crane Prairie Reservoir....
. Wickiup Reservoir is close to Twin Lakes
North and South Twin Lakes (Oregon)
North and South Twin Lakes are two nearly identical natural lakes in Deschutes County, Oregon. Both were formed around 20,000 years ago when a rising magma reservoir reached groundwater, creating violent steam explosions...
, Davis Lake
Davis Lake
Davis Lake is a lake in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. A relatively large and shallow lake in the Deschutes National Forest, it is located toward the south end of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, near Oregon Route 58 and U.S. 97...
, Crane Prairie Reservoir
Crane Prairie Reservoir
Crane Prairie Reservoir is a man-made reservoir located about southwest of Bend, in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, that also serves as one of Oregon's largest rainbow trout fisheries. It was so named because cranes often fish there. The dam was constructed in 1922 to prevent flooding to...
, Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake (Oregon)
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"....
, and Little Cultus Lake. The reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
is located within the Deschutes National Forest
Deschutes National Forest
The Deschutes National Forest is a United States National Forest located in parts of Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Jefferson counties in central Oregon. It comprises 1.8 million acres along the east side of the Cascade mountains. In 1908, the Deschutes National Forest was established from parts...
and the Fort Rock Ranger District, near the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
The Cascades Lakes Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in central Oregon in the United States. It runs for in the rugged country of Deschutes and Klamath counties on the east side of the Cascade Range. It offers particularly good views of Mount Bachelor and provides access to many...
.
Like nearby Crane Prairie Reservoir, Wickiup Reservoir was created by damming of the Deschutes River. The Wickiup Dam was built in 1949 for the "Deschutes Project" and "Pringle Falls Experimental Forest", which is used for education and research. Other nearby dams include the Crane Prairie Dam and Haystack Dam. The dam is 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long.
The average depth of the reservoir is 20 feet (6.1 m), with depths up to 70 feet (21.3 m) in channels. Because of this, fishing is very popular in the lake, especially for brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
, which is dubbed as the best fishing for brown trout in the state, which average between 5 pounds (2.3 kg) to 8 pounds (3.6 kg), but some reach over 20 pounds (9.1 kg).
According to the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, Wickiup Reservoir is one of Central Oregon's best wildlife viewing areas. Some of the nature that thrives in the area include waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
, shorebirds, hoofed mammals, ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
, and lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
.
Also at Wickiup Reservoir are several recreation options. There are six campgrounds on site, all of which include a boat ramp, toilets and water. In a 5 miles (8 km) area, there are also several geocaches.
On August 12, 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services
Oregon Department of Human Services
The Oregon Department of Human Services is the primary health and human services agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The ODHS was established in 1971 as the Oregon Department of Human Resources but renamed in 1999...
issued a health advisory due to a large algae bloom. They mentioned that "drinking water from Wickiup Reservoir was dangerous, even if boiled or treated" and that anyone who relies on the water from the lake should find an alternate source.