Keechelus Lake
Encyclopedia
Keechelus Lake is a lake
and reservoir
in Washington state, USA
. It is the source of the Yakima River
. Keechelus Lake is the western lake of the three large lakes near Interstate 90
and north of the Yakima River in the Cascade Range
, the other two being Kachess Lake
and Cle Elum Lake
. After crossing nearby Snoqualmie Pass
, Interstate 90 runs along the eastern shoreline of Keechelus Lake.
Keechelus Lake is part of the Columbia River
basin, being the source of the Yakima River, which is tributary to the Columbia River.
The lake is used as a storage reservoir
for the Yakima Project, an irrigation project run by the United States Bureau of Reclamation
. Although a natural lake, Keechelus Lake's capacity and discharge is controlled by Keechelus Dam, a 128 foot (39 m) high earthfill structure built in 1917. As a storage reservoir, Keechelus Lake's active capacity is 157,900 acre feet (195,000,000 m³).
The name Keechelus comes from an Indian term meaning "few fish", in contrast to Kachess Lake, whose name means "more fish".
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
and reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Washington state, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the source of the Yakima River
Yakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington State, named for the indigenous Yakama people. The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is , with an average drop of .-Course:...
. Keechelus Lake is the western lake of the three large lakes near Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
and north of the Yakima River in the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, the other two being Kachess Lake
Kachess Lake
Kachess Lake is a lake and reservoir along the course of the Kachess River in Washington state, USA. The upper part of the lake, north of a narrows, is called Little Kachess Lake. The Kachess River flows into the lake from the north, and out from the south...
and Cle Elum Lake
Cle Elum Lake
Cle Elum Lake is a lake and reservoir along the course of the Cle Elum River, in Washington state USA. Cle Elum Lake is the eastern lake of the three large lakes north of Interstate 90 and the Yakima River in the Cascade Range, the other two being Keechelus Lake and Kachess Lake.Cle Elum Lake is...
. After crossing nearby Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass is a mountain pass that carries Interstate 90 through the Cascade Range in the U.S. State of Washington. The elevation of the pass summit is , and is on the county line between Kittitas County and King County...
, Interstate 90 runs along the eastern shoreline of Keechelus Lake.
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
basin, being the source of the Yakima River, which is tributary to the Columbia River.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
for the Yakima Project, an irrigation project run by the United States Bureau of Reclamation
United States Bureau of Reclamation
The United States Bureau of Reclamation , and formerly the United States Reclamation Service , is an agency under the U.S...
. Although a natural lake, Keechelus Lake's capacity and discharge is controlled by Keechelus Dam, a 128 foot (39 m) high earthfill structure built in 1917. As a storage reservoir, Keechelus Lake's active capacity is 157,900 acre feet (195,000,000 m³).
The name Keechelus comes from an Indian term meaning "few fish", in contrast to Kachess Lake, whose name means "more fish".
External links
- Keechelus Dam, United States Bureau of ReclamationUnited States Bureau of ReclamationThe United States Bureau of Reclamation , and formerly the United States Reclamation Service , is an agency under the U.S...
, USGSUnited States Geological SurveyThe United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
, GNISGeographic Names Information SystemThe Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...