Applegate Lake
{{Short description|Reservoir in Jackson County, Oregon, USA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Applegate Lake
| image = Applegate Lake Oregon.jpg
| alt = Applegate Lake on the Applegate River in Jackson County, Oregon
| caption = Applegate Lake
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Jackson County, Oregon
| coords = {{coord|42|03|17|N|123|06|52|W|type:waterbody_region:US-OR_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}{{cite web | url ={{gnis3|1155516}} | title = Applegate Lake Feature Detail Report | work = GNIS | publisher = USGS| accessdate = 2007-07-31}}
| type = reservoir, mesotrophic
| inflow = Applegate River
| outflow = Applegate River
| catchment = {{convert|223|mi2|km2}}
| basin_countries = United States
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|988|acre|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth = {{convert|83|ft|m}}
| max-depth = {{convert|225|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| volume = {{convert|82200|acre.ft|m3}}
| residence_time = 7 months
| shore = {{convert|18.5|mi|km}}
| elevation = {{convert|1985|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities =
| pushpin_map = Oregon#USA
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_alt = Applegate Lake is located in Oregon
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Applegate Lake in Oregon, USA.
| website =
| reference ={{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Daniel M.|author2=Petersen, Richard R.|author3= Lycan, D. Richard|author4= Sweet, James W.|author5= Neuhaus, Mark E. |author6=Schaedel, Andrew L.| title=Atlas of Oregon Lakes|publisher=Oregon State University Press|location=Corvallis|year=1985|page=151|isbn=0-87071-343-4}}{{cite web|title=Atlas of Oregon Lakes: Applegate Lake (Jackson County) |url=http://aol.research.pdx.edu/?q=lake/397|publisher=Portland State University|year=1985–2012|accessdate=2012-07-18}}
}}
Applegate Lake is a {{convert|988|acre|ha|adj=on}} reservoir located in the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest about {{convert|27|mi|km}} southwest of Medford in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is {{convert|16|mi|km}} south of Oregon Route 238 along Applegate River Road and slightly north of the Oregon–California border. The lake is an impoundment of the Applegate River about {{convert|46|mi|km}} from its confluence with the Rogue River.
History
The United States Congress authorized construction of the Applegate Dam in 1962 as part of a flood-control project.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Bill|title=Underwater Ghost Town|work=Mail Tribune|date=2008-12-14|url= http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081214/NEWS/812140331 |accessdate=2012-07-20}} In 1976, the Corps of Engineers began work on the dam, which was finished in 1980 at a final cost of $96 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/report/app.htm |title=Applegate Dam and Lake |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers |accessdate=2010-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719124419/http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/report/app.htm |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}{{Cite news|url=http://applegater.org/pdf/2010/v03n01/v03n01p21.pdf|title=Back in Time: Applegate Dam|last=Byrne|first=Evelyn|date=Winter 2010|work=Applegater}} In addition to controlling floods, the dam was intended to store water for irrigation and recreation.
Applegate Dam, {{convert|1300|ft|m}} long and {{convert|242|ft|m}} high, created a lake stretching {{convert|4.6|mi|km}} upstream.{{cite web|title=Lost Creek Lake and Applegate Lake Oregon|publisher=U.S. Corps of Engineers|url=http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Portals/24/docs/pubs/pamphlets/Applegate_Lost_Creek.pdf|year=2008|accessdate=2012-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228050032/http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Portals/24/docs/pubs/pamphlets/Applegate_Lost_Creek.pdf|archive-date=2016-12-28|url-status=dead}} As the reservoir filled with water, it inundated the remnants of Copper, a community that had once had a post office and a few buildings. Since then, when water levels in the lake fall sufficiently, the highway that formerly ended at Copper reappears at the south (upstream) end of the lake and serves as the lower end of a boat ramp. Over 5,000 ounces of gold were recovered in the final two years of construction and proceeds were split between the federal government and two engineering firms involved.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/08/Two-firms-building-a-dam-on-the-Applegate-River/6522342507600/|title=Two firms building a dam on the Applegate River...|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}
Applegate Lake holds up to {{convert|82200|acre.ft|m3|lk=in}} of water. It and Lost Creek Lake, on the main stem of the Rogue River, are the only large multi-purpose Corps of Engineers reservoirs in the Rogue River basin.
The lake, the dam, and other entities in this region were named for Lindsay Applegate. In 1848, he led a party of settlers through the Rogue River Valley on the way to mines in California.{{cite book |last= McArthur |first= Lewis A. |author-link= Lewis A. McArthur |author2=Lewis L. McArthur |author2-link=Lewis L. McArthur |title= Oregon Geographic Names |orig-year= 1928 |edition= Seventh |year= 2003 |publisher= Oregon Historical Society Press |location= Portland, Oregon |isbn=978-0-87595-277-2 |page= 29}}
Recreation
Image:USACE Applegate Dam Oregon.jpg Applegate Lake has large populations of trout, landlocked Chinook salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and crappie. It is stocked each year with about 120,000 rainbow trout and about 50,000 young Chinook. Ramps, including two that are open year-round, provide access for boats. About {{convert|18|mi|km}} of trails circle the reservoir.{{cite book|last=Sheehan|first=Madelynne Diness|title=Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide|date=April 2005 |edition=10th|publisher=Flying Pencil Publications|location=Scappoose, Oregon |pages=58–59|isbn=0-916473-15-5}}
The United States Forest Service maintains campgrounds as well as places along the shore for fishing, picnicking, and swimming as well as boating. Mountain biking is allowed on one of the trails, and horses are allowed on three.
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See also
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Lakes of Jackson County, Oregon
Category:Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Category:Protected areas of Jackson County, Oregon
Category:Buildings and structures in Jackson County, Oregon
Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams