Blue River Reservoir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blue River Reservoir
Blue River Reservoir Location in Oregon Show map of Oregon Blue River Reservoir Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Lane County, Oregon, about 42 miles (68 km) east of Springfield
Coordinates	44°10′19″N 122°19′49″W / 44.17194°N 122.33028°W / 44.17194; -122.33028
Type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	Blue River
Primary outflows	Blue River
Catchment area	88 sq mi (230 km2)
Max. length	6.4 mi (10.3 km)
Surface area	935 acres (378 ha), 1,420 acres (570 ha) when full
Average depth	91 ft (28 m)
Max. depth	248 ft (76 m)
Water volume	85,000 acre⋅ft (105,000,000 m3)
Residence time	3 months
Shore length1	17 mi (27 km)
Surface elevation	1,350 ft (410 m)
Settlements	Blue River, an unincorporated community
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Blue River Reservoir is an artificial impoundment, about 6 miles (10 km) long, of the Blue River in Lane County in the U.S. state of Oregon. The reservoir is about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Oregon Route 126 in the Willamette National Forest about 45 miles (72 km) east of Eugene.

In 1968 the United States Army Corps of Engineers built Blue Lake Dam and Saddle Dam about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the mouth of the Blue River on the McKenzie River to create a reservoir for flood control and irrigation. Despite frequent blooms of blue-green algae, the lake is heavily used for recreation. Trout are the principal fish, supplemented from local hatcheries.

Recreation

Blue River Reservoir is used for fishing, boating, swimming, and waterskiing. The United States Forest Service manages Mona Campground, on the north side of the reservoir, and Lookout Campground, on the northeast side. The Forest Service also manages two launching sites for motorized and non-motorized boats, one near Lookout Campground and the other near Saddle Dam on the south shore. The reservoir supports populations of native coastal cutthroat trout and stocked rainbow trout.