Wickiup Reservoir

{{Short description|Lake in Oregon, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Wickiup Reservoir

| image = Wickiup reservoir swart odfw (15461748332).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Aerial view of Wickiup Reservoir

| image_bathymetry =

| alt_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Deschutes County, near La Pine, Oregon, US

| coords = {{coord|43|41|25|N|121|41|54|W|type:waterbody_region:US-OR_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}{{cite gnis|id=1161711|name=Wickiup Reservoir|entrydate=November 28, 1980|accessdate=July 7, 2014}}

| type =

| inflow = Deschutes River

| outflow = Deschutes River

| catchment = {{convert|253|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}{{cite book|first=Daniel M.|last=Johnson|title=Atlas of Oregon Lakes|chapter=Wickiup Reservoir|location=Corvallis, Oregon|publisher=Oregon State University Press|year=1985|isbn=9780870713422|oclc=11030545|page=146|url=http://aol.research.pdx.edu/documents/download/382|format=PDF|accessdate=April 8, 2014}}

| basin_countries = United States

| length =

| width =

| area = {{convert|10334|acre|ha|abbr=on}}

| depth = {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| max-depth = {{convert|70|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| volume = {{convert|206880|acre.ft|abbr=on}}

| residence_time = 5 months

| shore = {{convert|50.5|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| elevation = {{convert|4338|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| frozen =

| islands =

| cities =

| pushpin_map = Oregon#USA

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Wickiup Reservoir in Oregon, USA.

| pushpin_map_caption =

| website =

| reference =

}}

Wickiup Reservoir is the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located {{convert|60|mi|km}} southwest of Bend, and is the largest of the Cascade Lakes.{{cite web|url=http://www.lakelubbers.com/wickiup-reservoir-165/|title=Wickiup Reservoir, Oregon, USA|publisher=Lakelubbers|accessdate=July 1, 2014}} Wickiup Reservoir is close to the Twin Lakes, Davis Lake, Crane Prairie Reservoir, Cultus Lake, and Little Cultus Lake. The reservoir is located within the Deschutes National Forest and the Fort Rock Ranger District, near the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.

Like nearby Crane Prairie Reservoir, Wickiup Reservoir was created by damming of the Deschutes River. The Wickiup Dam was built in 1949 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation for the "Deschutes Project" and "Pringle Falls Experimental Forest", which is used for education and research. Other nearby dams include the Crane Prairie Dam and the Haystack Dam.{{cite web|url=https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=91|title=Wickiup Dam|publisher=Bureau of Reclamation|date=June 21, 2012|accessdate=July 1, 2014}} Wickiup Reservoir's earthen dam is {{convert|2.6|mi|km}} long.{{cite web|title=Wickiup Reservoir|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110601&ttype=recarea&recid=71870&actid=84&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110400000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&pname=Central+Oregon+-+Wickiup+Reservoir|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140702125416/http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110601&ttype=recarea&recid=71870&actid=84&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110400000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&pname=Central+Oregon+-+Wickiup+Reservoir|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 2, 2014|publisher=U.S. Forest Service|accessdate=July 1, 2014}} The Deschutes River, which originates at Little Lava Lake, is an inflow and an outflow of Wickiup Reservoir.{{cite web|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/centraloregon/recreation/fishing/recarea/?recid=72004&actid=43|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140702125407/http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/centraloregon/recreation/fishing/recarea/?recid=72004&actid=43|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 2, 2014|title=Deschutes River: Lava Lake to Crane Prairie|publisher=U.S. Forest Service|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}{{cite map|publisher=Raven Maps & Images|title=Oregon|year=1987|scale=1:500,000|cartography=Allan Cartography|edition=1993|location=Medford, Oregon|oclc=41588689}}

The average depth of the reservoir is {{convert|20|ft|m}}, with depths up to {{convert|70|ft|m}} in channels. Because of this, fishing is very popular in the lake, especially for brown trout. Wickiup Reservoir is dubbed as the best lake for brown trout fishing in the state. The trout average between {{convert|5|and|8|lb|kg}}, but some reach over {{convert|20|lb|kg}}.

According to the United States Forest Service, Wickiup Reservoir is one of Central Oregon's best wildlife viewing areas. Some of the nature that thrives in the area include waterfowl, shorebirds, hoofed mammals, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine.

Also at Wickiup Reservoir are several recreation options. There are six campgrounds on site,{{cite web|url=http://www.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaID=ORLRWI&CU_ID=1|title=Wickiup Reservoir|publisher=Wildernet|accessdate=July 1, 2014}} all of which include a boat ramp, toilets and water.

On August 12, 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services issued a health advisory due to a large algae bloom. They mentioned that "drinking water from Wickiup Reservoir was dangerous, even if boiled or treated" and that anyone who relies on the water from the lake should find an alternate source.{{cite news |title= Algae bloom prompts health advisory for Wickiup Reservoir|first= Steve|last= Beaven|newspaper= The Oregonian|location=Portland, Oregon|date= August 12, 2009|url= http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/algage_bloom_prompts_health_ad.html|accessdate=January 24, 2010}}