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Detroit Lake, a reservoir formed by the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, is a popular fishing and recreational area 46 miles (74 km) southeast of Salem, Oregon, United States.[1][2] The lake is adjacent to Oregon Route 22. This mesotrophic lake stores water for use by the city of Salem and other nearby communities.
[edit] History
Detroit Lake is situated over a historical road bed of the former Oregon Pacific Railroad. This route was built by Colonel T. Egenton Hogg as a proposed transcontinental railroad. Because of a lack of funding, the line terminated in Idanha, east of the lake. Idanha had rail service until the 1950s, when the track was removed for installation of the Detroit and Big Cliff reservoirs.[3] Detroit Lake was created in 1953 after the completion of the dam.[1] Part of the Willamette Valley Projects, the lake was intended primarily for flood control and power generation but has become one of the major recreation resources in western Oregon.
[edit] Details
Detroit Dam, impounding Detroit Lake
The reservoir has a capacity of 455,000 acre-feet (560 million m³) of water when full and 281,600 acre-feet (347 million m³) in the summer when drawn down.[1] Located in the North Santiam Canyon, the 9-mile (14 km) long lake has shoreline of 32 miles (51 km) when full.[2] One of the swimming opportunities is at the Mongold Day Use Area (an Oregon State Park).[4] Detroit Lake is stocked by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife with 125,000 catchable rainbow trout along with fingerling rainbow, kokanee and chinook salmon.[5] A self-sustaining population of brown bullhead catfish also resides in the lake. The United States Forest Service also maintains recreation facilities at the lake.[1]
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