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Detroit Lake is a reservoir impounded by the
Detroit Lake is situated over a historical road bed of the former Oregon Pacific Railroad. This route was built by Colonel
The reservoir has a capacity of of water when full and in the summer when drawn down. Located in the North Santiam Canyon, the long lake has shoreline of when full. One swimming opportunity is at the
The water level fluctuates with snow pack, precipitation, and the water consumption of Salem, and surrounding areas. At low pool, it has a surface elevation of ; at the full pool season—typically May 1 to September 1—it can raise up to a water elevation of .
In 2015 and 2016 low water levels in the reservoir impacted recreation, the operation of marinas and the economy in the Santiam Canyon.
FLRCDL: Federal Lakes Recreation Committee for Detroit Lake website
Army Corps of Engineers: Hourly Detroit Lake Levels
Army Corps of Engineers: Plot of lake level for last 12 months
{{authority control Reservoirs in Oregon State parks of Oregon Lakes of Marion County, Oregon Lakes of Linn County, Oregon Parks in Marion County, Oregon Parks in Linn County, Oregon Buildings and structures in Marion County, Oregon Buildings and structures in Linn County, Oregon Willamette National Forest
Detroit Dam
Detroit Dam is a gravity dam on the North Santiam River between Linn County and Marion County, Oregon. It is located in the Cascades, about west of the city of Detroit. It was constructed between 1949 and 1953 by the United States Army Corps o ...
on the North Santiam River
The North Santiam River is a tributary of the Santiam River in western Oregon in the United States. It drains of the Cascade Range on the eastern side of the Willamette Valley east of Salem.
It rises in the high Cascades in eastern Linn count ...
southeast of Salem, Oregon
Salem ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County, Oregon, Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river ...
, United States.
The lake is adjacent to Oregon Route 22 near the city of Detroit.
This mesotrophic lake stores water for use by the city of Salem and other nearby communities.
History
Detroit Lake is situated over a historical road bed of the former Oregon Pacific Railroad. This route was built by Colonel T. Egenton Hogg
Thomas Egenton Hogg (1828–1898) was a master in the Confederate States Navy who participated in raids on Union ships during the American Civil War. He was captured and sentenced to death, but was eventually released from prison, after which he ...
as a proposed transcontinental railroad. Because of a lack of funding, the line terminated in Idanha, southeast of the lake. Idanha had rail service until the 1950s, when the track was removed for installation of the Detroit and Big Cliff reservoirs. Detroit Lake was created in 1953 after the completion of the dam. Part of the Willamette Valley Projects, the lake was intended primarily for flood control and power generation but has become one of the major recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasur ...
resources in western Oregon.
Details
The reservoir has a capacity of of water when full and in the summer when drawn down. Located in the North Santiam Canyon, the long lake has shoreline of when full. One swimming opportunity is at the Mongold Day-Use Area
Mongold Day-Use Area is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It is located on Oregon Route 22 about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of the town of Detroit, Oregon. Because it is on ...
(an Oregon State Park).
Detroit Lake is stocked by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife with 125,000 catchable rainbow trout
The rainbow trout (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') is a species of trout native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead (sometimes called "steelhead trout") is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coasta ...
along with fingerling rainbow, kokanee Kokanee is a word from the Okanagan language referring to land-locked lake populations of sockeye salmon (''Oncorhynchus nerka''). It may also refer to:
* Kokanee Range, a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia, Canada
* Kokanee sal ...
and chinook salmon.
A self-sustaining population of brown bullhead catfish resides in the lake.
Detroit Lake offers year-round fishing in still water and not in or near the rivers and streams. It is one of 32 lakes federally designated for recreation, managed by the United States Forest Service.
The lake serves many purposes including flood control, water conservation, and recreation.
There are many camping and recreation opportunities at Detroit Lake. In 2009, a new winter boat ramp was constructed, making it possible to launch a boat safely during the winter months when other ramps are on dry ground.
Water levels
The water level fluctuates with snow pack, precipitation, and the water consumption of Salem, and surrounding areas. At low pool, it has a surface elevation of ; at the full pool season—typically May 1 to September 1—it can raise up to a water elevation of .
In 2015 and 2016 low water levels in the reservoir impacted recreation, the operation of marinas and the economy in the Santiam Canyon.
See also
* List of lakes in OregonReferences
External links
FLRCDL: Federal Lakes Recreation Committee for Detroit Lake website
Army Corps of Engineers: Hourly Detroit Lake Levels
Army Corps of Engineers: Plot of lake level for last 12 months
{{authority control Reservoirs in Oregon State parks of Oregon Lakes of Marion County, Oregon Lakes of Linn County, Oregon Parks in Marion County, Oregon Parks in Linn County, Oregon Buildings and structures in Marion County, Oregon Buildings and structures in Linn County, Oregon Willamette National Forest