Keechelus Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Keechelus Lake
image_lake = Keechelus_stump.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Kittitas County, Washington
coords = Coord|47.3477|-121.3691|type:waterbody_region:US-WA|display=inline,title
type = natural lake, reservoir
inflow =
outflow = Yakima River
catchment = convert|54.3|sqmi|abbr=on
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|4.2|mi|abbr=on
width = convert|1|mi|abbr=on
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume = convert|0.0467|cumi|km3|abbr=on|lk=on
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|2517|ft|abbr=on
islands =
cities =

Keechelus Lake is a lake in Washington state, USA. It is the source of the Yakima River. Keechelus Lake is the western lake of the three large lakes near Interstate 90 and north of the Yakima River in the Cascade Range, the other two being Kachess Lake and Cle Elum Lake. After crossing nearby Snoqualmie Pass, Interstate 90 runs along the eastern shoreline of Keechelus Lake.

Keechelus Lake is part of the Columbia River basin, being the source of the Yakima River, which is tributary to the Columbia River.

The lake is used as a storage reservoir for the Yakima Project, an irrigation project run by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. Although a natural lake, Keechelus Lake's capacity and discharge is controlled by Keechelus Dam, a 128 foot (39 m) high earthfill structure built in 1917. As a storage reservoir, Keechelus Lake's active capacity is 157,900 acre feet (195,000,000 m³). [ [http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/yakima.html Yakima Project] , United States Bureau of Reclamation.]

The name Keechelus comes from an Indian term meaning "few fish", in contrast to Kachess Lake, whose name means "more fish". [cite book |last= Phillips |first= James W. |title= Washington State Place Names |year= 1971 |publisher= University of Washington Press |isbn= 0-295-95158-3]

References

External links

* [http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/wa00265.htm Keechelus Dam] , United States Bureau of Reclamation
*, USGS, GNIS