Prineville Reservoir

Infobox lake
lake_name = Prineville Reservoir
image_lake = Calm Water and Reflection on Prineville Reservoir (451712417).jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Oregon
coords = coord|44|07|49.8|N|120|43|18.8|W|region:US-OR_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type = Reservoir
inflow = Crooked River, Bear Creek, Sanford Creek, Deer Creek, Alkali Creek, Antelope Creek, Owl Creek
outflow = Crooked River
catchment = convert|2635|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = convert|3030|acre|km2|0|abbr=on
depth =
max-depth = convert|130|ft|m|1|abbr=on
volume = convert|150200|acre.ft|abbr=on|lk=on
residence_time =
shore = convert|43|mi|km|1|abbr=on
elevation = convert|3257|ft|m|0|abbr=on
islands =
cities = The Prineville Reservoir is located in the high desert hills of Central Oregon, Oregon, United States. The reservoir is on the Crooked River located convert|14|mi|km|1 southeast of Prineville, OR, and convert|29|mi|km|1 east of Bend, Oregon . This reservoir is a popular retreat for most of Central Oregon. It is located near the geographic center of Oregon, and is managed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department.

Prineville Reservoir was created by damming, via the Arthur R. Bowman Dam, the Crooked River upstream from Prineville, Oregon. The reservoir is part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Crooked River Project, flooding a juniper and sagebrush filled canyon, and was finished in 1961. Prineville Reservoir covers convert|18|mi|km of the Crooked River and is primarily an irrigation storage water body, with secondary objectives of Crooked River flood control and public recreation. Prineville Reservoir has a maximum depth of convert|130|ft|m and storage of just over convert|150000|acre feet of water.

The northeast end of Prineville Reservoir is a designated wildlife management area; these convert|3800|acre|km2 of both land and water provide a refuge for wildlife.

Fishing

Fishing can be quite good with rainbow & cutthroat trout, small & largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and crayfish. The trout fishing experience is year-round, with ice fishing in winter.

Boating

There is no speed limit on the lake and so boating of all kinds is very popular. Water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing are some of the most common sports and about half of the boats on the lake are there for this purpose. There is a marina with a boat ramp.

Camping

There are two state parks that allow camping, Prineville State Park, and Juniper State Park. Both have facilities and offer RV hookup.

Wildlife

Prineville Reservoir is a popular place to see waterfowl, shorebirds, and birds of prey in one setting. Spring and fall migrations bring common loon, while in summer blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, spotted sandpiper, American avocet, and black-necked stilt. Also seen is the bald eagle, golden eagle, osprey, prairie falcon, and red-tailed hawk. Juniper woodlands harbor black-throated gray warbler, pinyon jay, and ash-throated flycatcher. Willow shrubbery may hold orange-crowned warbler and gray catbird.

Non-avian wildlife in the area include bats, black bear, coyotes, red fox, gray fox, bobcat, lynx, mountain Lion, mule deer, elk, black tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, badger, striped skunk, spotted skunk, porcupine, rockchuck, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, and other assorted small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

References

*http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_34.php
*http://www.wanderthewest.com/articles/63/
*http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/wildlife/sites/28-prinevillereservoir.shtml
*http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/wildlife/species/mammals/index.shtml
*http://www.lakelubbers.com/viewlake.cfm?lake=176
*gnis|1125673

External links

* [http://www.prinevillereservoir.com/ prinevillereservoir.com]
* [http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_34.php Prineville Reservoir State Park]