Howard Prairie Lake is a reservoir located 4,526 feet (1,380 m) above sea level in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. It is 18 miles (29 km) east of Ashland. The lake is formed by the 100-foot (30 m) tall Howard Prairie Dam, which impounds Beaver Creek, in the Klamath River watershed.[1]
| Howard Prairie Lake | |
|---|---|
 Howard Prairie Lake from its southern shore | |
  Howard Prairie Lake  Howard Prairie Lake | |
| Location | Jackson County, Southern Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°12′59″N 122°22′35″W / 42.21639°N 122.37639°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Water diverted from Little Butte Creek |
| Primary outflows | Beaver Creek |
| Catchment area | 79 square miles (205 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,990 acres (8 km2) |
| Average depth | 35 feet (11 m) |
| Max. depth | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Water volume | 62,100 acre-feet (76,599,200 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 4,526 feet (1,380 m) |
| Islands | Buck, Doe, and Fawn |
History
editThe reservoir was created in 1958 when the 100-foot (30 m) tall earth fill dam was completed by the Talent Division of the Rogue River Basin Project.[1][2] A canal diverting water from nearby Little Butte Creek, (in the Rogue River watershed), to the lake was also completed.[1]
Statistics
editHoward Prairie Lake has an average surface area of 1,990 acres (8 km2), and an average volume of 62,100 acre-feet (76,599,200 m3). It has a maximum depth of 80 feet (24 m), and an average depth of 35 feet (11 m).[3] The lake has a 79-square-mile (205 km2) drainage basin.[4]
During the 2020–21 North American drought, the lake reached 4% capacity.[5]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Howard Prairie Dam, Oregon, 1991–2020 normals, 1960–2020 extremes: 4567ft (1392m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) |
67 (19) |
73 (23) |
82 (28) |
92 (33) |
95 (35) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
97 (36) |
89 (32) |
71 (22) |
55 (13) |
100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 47.7 (8.7) |
52.5 (11.4) |
61.9 (16.6) |
70.5 (21.4) |
79.6 (26.4) |
86.1 (30.1) |
91.6 (33.1) |
91.4 (33.0) |
87.0 (30.6) |
76.3 (24.6) |
58.1 (14.5) |
45.7 (7.6) |
92.2 (33.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36.1 (2.3) |
39.6 (4.2) |
44.6 (7.0) |
50.5 (10.3) |
60.2 (15.7) |
68.3 (20.2) |
79.0 (26.1) |
79.0 (26.1) |
72.4 (22.4) |
58.0 (14.4) |
42.2 (5.7) |
34.8 (1.6) |
55.4 (13.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.5 (−1.4) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
35.2 (1.8) |
40.0 (4.4) |
47.9 (8.8) |
54.3 (12.4) |
62.9 (17.2) |
62.3 (16.8) |
56.1 (13.4) |
45.5 (7.5) |
35.0 (1.7) |
28.8 (−1.8) |
44.1 (6.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.0 (−5.0) |
23.5 (−4.7) |
25.9 (−3.4) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
35.5 (1.9) |
40.4 (4.7) |
46.8 (8.2) |
45.6 (7.6) |
39.9 (4.4) |
33.1 (0.6) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
32.8 (0.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 8.8 (−12.9) |
11.4 (−11.4) |
14.6 (−9.7) |
22.0 (−5.6) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
37.7 (3.2) |
37.9 (3.3) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
24.0 (−4.4) |
16.0 (−8.9) |
9.7 (−12.4) |
4.0 (−15.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) |
−20 (−29) |
−2 (−19) |
6 (−14) |
20 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
29 (−2) |
22 (−6) |
8 (−13) |
1 (−17) |
−20 (−29) |
−20 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.67 (119) |
3.76 (96) |
3.67 (93) |
2.66 (68) |
2.04 (52) |
1.03 (26) |
0.49 (12) |
0.39 (9.9) |
0.68 (17) |
2.00 (51) |
3.97 (101) |
5.92 (150) |
31.28 (794.9) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 25.40 (64.5) |
23.50 (59.7) |
16.00 (40.6) |
9.20 (23.4) |
1.20 (3.0) |
0.10 (0.25) |
0.00 (0.00) |
0.00 (0.00) |
0.10 (0.25) |
1.00 (2.5) |
14.80 (37.6) |
26.30 (66.8) |
117.6 (298.6) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 28 (71) |
30 (76) |
27 (69) |
9 (23) |
1 (2.5) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (2.5) |
8 (20) |
20 (51) |
38 (97) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 14.7 | 13.7 | 15.6 | 13.4 | 10.8 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 7.7 | 13.6 | 15.5 | 118 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.7 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 5.3 | 9.1 | 44.7 |
| Source 1: NOAA[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (records, monthly max/mins & 1991-2020 snow depth)[7] | |||||||||||||
Flora and fauna
editHoward Prairie Lake is known for its large number of rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.[8] Ducks and geese inhabit the surrounding regions. The lake is surrounded by pine and fir forests in the Cascade Mountains.[1]
Recreation
editBoating, water skiing, fishing, and camping at the three public campgrounds are popular activities at the lake.[1][9] Hiking and biking are also popular on trails around the lake. The Howard Prairie Lake Resort is located on the northern shore of the lake and features a large marina, boat ramp, restaurant, campground, and convenience store.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "Rogue River Basin Project". United States Bureau of Reclamation. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ "Howard Prairie Dam – General". United States Bureau of Reclamation. April 30, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ Loy, William; Allan, Stuart; Buckley, Aileen; Meacham, James (2001). Atlas of Oregon (2nd ed.). University of Oregon Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-87114-101-9. Retrieved on April 8, 2009.
- ^ "Rogue River Basin Project – Project Data". United States Bureau of Reclamation. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ Mills, Mariah (25 August 2021). "Lakes on south end of Jackson Co. continue to experience historically low water levels". KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Howard Prairie Dam, Oregon 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ a b "Howard Prairie Lake Resort". Howard Prairie Lake Resort. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ "Recreation". Howard Prairie Lake Resort. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2009.