Cougar Reservoir

Cougar Reservoir
Location Lane County, Oregon
Coordinates 44°7′2″N 122°14′20″W / 44.11722°N 122.23889°W / 44.11722; -122.23889Coordinates: 44°7′2″N 122°14′20″W / 44.11722°N 122.23889°W / 44.11722; -122.23889
Type Reservoir
Primary inflows South Fork McKenzie River
Primary outflows South Fork McKenzie River
Catchment area 207 square miles (536 km2)[1]
Basin countries United States
Max. length About 5 miles (8 km)[2]
Surface area 1,280 acres (5.18 km2)[3]
Average depth 171 feet (52 m)[1]
Max. depth 425 feet (130 m)[1]
Water volume 219,300 acre feet (0.271 km3)[1]
Residence time 4 months[1]
Shore length1 18 miles (29 km)[3]
Surface elevation 1,558 feet (475 m)[4]
Settlements Rainbow
References [1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Cougar Reservoir (also known as Cougar Lake) is a reservoir on the South Fork McKenzie River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is in Lane County, 46 miles (74 km) east of Eugene and about 3 miles (5 km) south of the community of Rainbow in the Willamette National Forest.[1] In 1963 the United States Army Corps of Engineers built Cougar Dam on the river primarily to generate hydroelectricity and control flooding, and the reservoir formed behind the dam.[1]

The lake is also used for recreation, including boating, fishing, swimming, and waterskiing. The United States Forest Service maintains three campgrounds—Cougar Crossing, Slide Creek, and Sunnyside—near the reservoir, with opportunities for hiking and picnicking as well as camping. Other campgrounds in the general vicinity include French Pete and Delta. Terwilliger Hot Springs is along Rider Creek just west of the lake.[5]

Cougar Reservoir supports populations of stocked rainbow trout and stocked landlocked Chinook salmon as well as naturally reproducing cutthroat trout. Fishing for rainbow trout, especially in winter, is said to be "fair". The lake also supports bull trout, but it is not legal to catch and keep them.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Johnson, Daniel M.; Petersen, Richard R.; Lycan, D. Richard; Sweet, James W.; Neuhaus, Mark E., and Schaedel, Andrew L. (1985). Atlas of Oregon Lakes. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. p. 232. ISBN 0-87071-343-4.
  2. ↑ United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map". TopoQuest. Retrieved December 25, 2012. Map quadrangles show river mileage for the lower 25 miles (40 km) of the South Fork.
  3. 1 2 "Atlas of Oregon Lakes: Cougar Lake (Lane County)". Portland State University. 1985–2012. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Cougar Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. May 22, 1986. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Cougar Reservoir Area". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  6. ↑ Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 128. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.
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