Chickahominy Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Chickahominy Reservoir is located on U.S. Highway 20 100 miles (160.9 km) east of Bend, Oregon
and 32 miles (51.5 km) west of Burns, Oregon
. It was built as an irrigation reservoir, but is now managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
as a recreational fishery. The reservoir is very long and is narrow at points, being almost pinched at the center.
A dam
on Chickahominy Creek in Harney County, Oregon
formed the reservoir. After leaving the reservoir, the creek then flows into Silver Creek, north of Riley, Oregon
. Chickahominy Reservoir was named for the creek that bears the same name, and the origin is uncertain. Speculation exists that members of the U.S. Cavalry, who were fighting in the Bannock War
near Silver Creek named the creek in 1878. In fact, Reuben Bernard, a cavalry commander, had fought in several campaigns along the Chickahominy River in Virginia
during the American Civil War
in 1862.
The lake sits in the wide open and is exposed to harsh wind, and is surrounded by miles of sagebrush
and few trees.
If planning to fish this lake it is best in the morning and evening. Limit is 5 fish, motors are allowed, and is speed limit controlled. The lake is open year round. Although not a huge reservoir, Chickahominy is large enough to stock trout. Annually, it is stocked with rainbow trout
fingerlings, and conditions allow for rapid growth. The reservoir provides an ideal habitat for growing huge trout, which feast year-round on minnows, leeches, and aquatic insects. The reservoir is usually frozen by mid-December.
A paved boat ramp is located near the dam.
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
and 32 miles (51.5 km) west of Burns, Oregon
Burns, Oregon
Burns is a city in and the county seat of Harney County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 2,806.-History:Burns was established in the early 1880s and incorporated upon Harney county's creation in 1889...
. It was built as an irrigation reservoir, but is now managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
as a recreational fishery. The reservoir is very long and is narrow at points, being almost pinched at the center.
A dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on Chickahominy Creek in Harney County, Oregon
Harney County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Malheur National Forest *Malheur National Wildlife Refuge*Ochoco National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,609 people, 3,036 households, and 2,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile...
formed the reservoir. After leaving the reservoir, the creek then flows into Silver Creek, north of Riley, Oregon
Riley, Oregon
Riley, Oregon is an unincorporated community in Harney County, Oregon, United States. The center of the community is at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 395 and U.S. Highway 20, milepost 104. Riley is about west of Burns, the seat of Harney County. The elevation of Riley is .Riley is farming and...
. Chickahominy Reservoir was named for the creek that bears the same name, and the origin is uncertain. Speculation exists that members of the U.S. Cavalry, who were fighting in the Bannock War
Bannock War
The Bannock War was a series of conflicts in 1878 between various Bannock, Northern Shoshone and Paiute tribes against the United States.- Background :...
near Silver Creek named the creek in 1878. In fact, Reuben Bernard, a cavalry commander, had fought in several campaigns along the Chickahominy River in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1862.
The lake sits in the wide open and is exposed to harsh wind, and is surrounded by miles of sagebrush
Sagebrush
Sagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
and few trees.
If planning to fish this lake it is best in the morning and evening. Limit is 5 fish, motors are allowed, and is speed limit controlled. The lake is open year round. Although not a huge reservoir, Chickahominy is large enough to stock trout. Annually, it is stocked with rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
fingerlings, and conditions allow for rapid growth. The reservoir provides an ideal habitat for growing huge trout, which feast year-round on minnows, leeches, and aquatic insects. The reservoir is usually frozen by mid-December.
A paved boat ramp is located near the dam.