Lost Creek Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lost Creek Lake
image_lake = USACE Lost Creek Lake and Dam.jpg
caption_lake = The lake behind William L. Jess Dam
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Jackson County, Oregon
coords = Coord|42|40|59|N|122|39|17|W|type:waterbody_region:US-OR|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Rogue River
outflow = Rogue River
catchment = convert|674|sqmi|abbr=on|lk=on
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|10|mi|abbr=on|lk=on
width =
area = convert|3430|acre|km2|abbr=on|lk=on (full pool)
depth =
max-depth =
volume = convert|315000|acre.ft|abbr=on|lk=on
residence_time =
shore = convert|30|mi|abbr=on
elevation = convert|1872|ft|abbr=on (full pool)
islands =
cities =

Lost Creek Lake is an artificial lake (reservoir) on the Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon, USA. The lake is impounded by William L. Jess Dam. The dam and lake were constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1977 for flood control in the Rogue River basin. The lake and dam were the first completed elements of the multi-purpose Rogue River Basin Project, consisting of Lost Creek Lake, Applegate Lake and the Elk Creek Project. The lake is located approximately convert|27|mi|km|0 (straight line) northeast of Medford, Oregon.

History

Construction of Lost Creek Dam began in 1972 and was completed in 1977. In 1996, the Congress renamed Lost Creek Dam, along with the adjoining intake structure, in honor of William L. Jess, one of the founders of the Rogue Basin Association, which was established in 1955. Jess was a strong advocate for the construction and multiple use of the impounded waters.

Dam

The primary purpose of the dam is flood control and is operated in conjunction with Applegate Dam to regulate water flows down the river as well as to impound water for summer use. The dam is an earthfill structure with a gated spillway and contains two hydroelectric generating units with a total capacity of 49 megawatts. The hydroelectric plant has a rated flow capacity of 2,600 cubic feet (73.6 m³) per second. The technologically advanced and unusual intake tower regulates water temperature by combining lake water from different depths in a mixing chamber before releasing it downstream. This serves to cool the normally warm summer water of the Rogue River, which improves conditions for fish migration and survival. The dam is convert|3750|ft|m|1 long, convert|327|ft|m|1 high, with the top of the dam at an elevation of convert|1882|ft|m|1 above mean sea level (MSL).

Lake

*Drainage area: convert|674|sqmi|km2|1
*Usable storage: AcreFeetToM3|315000
*Lake elevation:
**Minimum conservation pool: convert|1751|ft|m|1
**Minimum flood control pool: convert|1812|ft|m|1
**Full pool: convert|1872|ft|m|1

Recreation

The river below the dam is a popular area for easy rafting and tubing in the summer when the water is relatively warm. Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area is located along the southern shore of the lake. Casey State Park is located on the Rogue River below the dam.

Fish hatchery

The Cole M. Rivers Fish Hatchery, one of the largest in Oregon, is just downstream of the dam. Built by the Corps of Engineers and operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the hatchery can produce 425,000 pounds (193,000 kg) of trout and salmon annually.

See also

* List of lakes in Oregon

External links

*gnis|1158890
* [http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=G210090 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Corps Lake Gateway – Lost Creek Lake]
* [https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/r/p_lostcrk.asp U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Lost Creek Lake]
* [http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/report/los.htm U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Lost Creek Dam and Lake Water Management data]
* [http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=242&agencyCode=130 Recreation.gov: Lost Creek Lake]
* [http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2147/places/37615/ Byways.org: William Jess Dam]
* [http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPANews/Library/images/Dams/ Bonneville Power Administration: Dams photo gallery]