Cougar Reservoir

Cougar Reservoir (also known as Cougar Lake) is a reservoir on the South Fork McKenzie River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is in Lane County, 46 miles (74 km) east of Eugene and about 3 miles (5 km) south of the community of Rainbow in the Willamette National Forest.[1] In 1963 the United States Army Corps of Engineers built Cougar Dam on the river primarily to generate hydroelectricity and control flooding, and the reservoir formed behind the dam.[1]

Cougar Reservoir
LocationLane County, Oregon
Coordinates44°7′2″N 122°14′20″W
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsSouth Fork McKenzie River
Primary outflowsSouth Fork McKenzie River
Catchment area207 square miles (536 km2)[1]
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. lengthAbout 5 miles (8 km)[2]
Surface area1,280 acres (5.18 km2)[3]
Average depth171 feet (52 m)[1]
Max. depth425 feet (130 m)[1]
Water volume219,300 acre feet (0.271 km3)[1]
Residence time4 months[1]
Shore length118 miles (29 km)[3]
Surface elevation1,558 feet (475 m)[4]
SettlementsRainbow
References[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The lake is also used for recreation, including boating, fishing, swimming, and waterskiing. The United States Forest Service maintains three campgrounds—Cougar Crossing, Slide Creek, and Sunnyside—near the reservoir, with opportunities for hiking and picnicking as well as camping. Other campgrounds in the general vicinity include French Pete and Delta. Terwilliger Hot Springs is along Rider Creek just west of the lake.[5]

Cougar Reservoir supports populations of stocked rainbow trout and stocked landlocked Chinook salmon as well as naturally reproducing cutthroat trout. Fishing for rainbow trout, especially in winter, is said to be "fair". The lake also supports bull trout, but it is not legal to catch and keep them.[6]

See also
  • List of lakes in Oregon

References
  1. Johnson, Daniel M.; Petersen, Richard R.; Lycan, D. Richard; Sweet, James W.; Neuhaus, Mark E., and Schaedel, Andrew L. (1985). Atlas of Oregon Lakes. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. p. 232. ISBN 0-87071-343-4.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map". TopoQuest. Retrieved December 25, 2012. Map quadrangles show river mileage for the lower 25 miles (40 km) of the South Fork.
  3. "Atlas of Oregon Lakes: Cougar Lake (Lane County)". Portland State University. 1985–2012. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  4. "Cougar Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. May 22, 1986. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  5. "Cougar Reservoir Area". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  6. Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 128. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.
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