Moose Mountain Lake

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Moose Mountain Lake

| image = Moose Mountain Lake 01.jpg

| image_size = 255px

| caption = Moose Mountain Lake

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Saskatchewan

| pushpin_map = Saskatchewan#Canada

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Saskatchewan

| coords = {{coord|49.8975|-103.0400|region:CA-SK_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}

| type = Reservoir

| inflow = Moose Mountain Creek

| outflow = Moose Mountain Creek

| catchment = Souris River

| basin_countries = Canada

| length = {{cvt|11.2|km}}

| width = {{cvt|1.5|km}}

| area = {{cvt|395.2|ha}}

| depth =

| max-depth = {{cvt|14.3|m}}

| volume = {{cvt|11535|dam3|acre.ft}}

| residence_time =

| shore = {{cvt|28|km}}

| elevation ={{cvt|629|m}}

| islands =

| cities = None

}}

Moose Mountain Lake{{cite web |title=Moose Mountain Lake|url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HALUJ|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=8 September 2024}} is a reservoir in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located in the RM of Golden West No. 95 in the Prairies Ecozone{{cite web |title=Prairies Ecozone |url=http://ecozones.ca/english/zone/Prairies/index.html |website=Ecozones}} of Palliser's Triangle at the western edge of Moose Mountain Upland. Moose Mountain Creek is both the primary inflow and outflow of the lake; it enters at the north end and leaves at the dam{{cite web |title=Dams and Reservoirs |url=https://www.wsask.ca/lakes-rivers/dams-reservoirs/ |website=Water Security Agency |publisher=Water Security Agency |access-date=17 March 2024}} in the south end. A secondary inflow that comes from Gooseberry Lake enters on the western side near the south end.

The lake runs at a diagonal in a north to east direction and is about seven miles long while less than a mile wide. The total surface area is {{convert|395|ha}} and the shoreline measures {{convert|28|km}}. It was created in 1937 with the damming of Moose Mountain Creek and is situated in the Moose Mountain Creek valley, which was formed during the last ice age.{{cite web |title=Moose Mountain Lake Fishing Map |url=http://www.gpsnauticalcharts.com/main/ca_sk_moose_mountain_lake_sk-moose-mountain-lake-nautical-chart.html |website=Gps Nautical Charts |publisher=Bist LLC |access-date=12 January 2022}}

Parks and recreation

Near the dam, along the lake, there is a small park with a picnic area and boat launch called Lost Horse Hills Heritage Park. It is named after the nearby Lost Horse Hills. Fishing in the lake is popular and northern pike are a common fish species found in the lake.{{cite web |title=Moose Mountain Lake |url=https://fishbrain.com/fishing-waters/MmHuTEfN/moose-mountain-lake |website=Fish brain |access-date=12 January 2022}}{{cite web |title=Moose Mountain Lake |url=https://www.anglersatlas.com/place/111716/moose-mountain-lake |website=Anglers Atlas |publisher=Angler's Atlas |access-date=12 January 2022}}

At the northern end, where Moose Mountain Creek flows into the lake, is Saint Clair National Wildlife Area, which is one of 28 Prairie National Wildlife Areas in Saskatchewan.{{Cite web |url=https://www.touristplaces.ca/corning-sk/st-clair-national-wildlife-area/ |title=St. Clair National Wildlife Area, Corning SK}}

Moose Mountain Dam

File:Moose Mountain Dam 02.jpg

Moose Mountain Dam ({{Coord|49.8911|-103.0319|display=inline}}) is an earthen dam built in 1937. It is owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA).{{Cite web |url=https://gis.wsask.ca/WSAOwnedDams/ |title=WSA Owned Dams}} The building of the dam created the reservoir called Moose Mountain Lake that holds {{convert|11535|dam3|acre.ft}} of water. The reservoir is used for irrigation, flood control, recreation, and as a wildlife and fish habitat. In 2012, the WSA spent more than $1.7 million in upgrades to the dam. Part of the upgrade was to build a fish passageway to allow migrating fish access to the reservoir. On 26 September 2012, the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, Ken Cheveldayoff said,

{{blockquote |text="Maintaining our water infrastructure is key to our government's vision for resource management in Saskatchewan. This investment will help safeguard the health, safety, and reliability of this watershed now and years to come."

{{Cite web |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2012/september/26/moose-mountain-dam-receives-17-million-rehabilitation |title=MOOSE MOUNTAIN DAM RECEIVES $1.7 MILLION REHABILITATION | News and Media}}}}