Lake of the Woods (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Lake of the Woods is a natural lake near the crest of the Cascade Range
in southern Oregon
, United States
. The lake covers 1146 acres (4.6 km²). The lake was named by Oliver C. Applegate in 1870. Today, the lake is part of the Fremont-Winema National Forests
. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
manages the lake’s fishery. The small unincorporated community of Lake of the Woods, Oregon
is located on the east shore of the lake. Lake of the Woods is one of southern Oregon’s most popular outdoor recreation sites.
Lake of the Woods became part of the Cascade Forest Reserve
in 1898. The lake was managed as part of that Cascade Reserve until 1908, when the area was transferred to the Crater National Forest
. The United States Forest Service
issued the first residential use permit for a private cabin near Lake of the Woods in 1916. In 1920, the Forest Service built a public campground along the lake shore. The site was very popular, with 1,850 summer visitors recorded the first year it was open. In 1923, the road into the lake area was improved, and a second campground was built to accommodate the increasing number of recreational visitors. In 1926, the Forest Service issued a permit allowing the Lake of the Woods Recreation Company to build a resort at the lake.
In 1932, Lake of the Woods and the lakeside campgrounds were transferred to the Rogue River National Forest along with the surrounding forest. In the mid-1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps
began work at the Lake of the Woods Ranger Station
at the north end of the lake. Civilian Conservation Corps crews built an office, residences, and a number of work building at the ranger station. The Civilian Conservation Corps also expanded and improved the road network around the lake.
In 1937, there were 120 summer homes around Lake of the Woods. The next year, power lines brought electricity to the area for the first time. By 1948, the number of summer home at the lake had grown to 200. There were also four organizational summer camps located around the lake. In 1951, the resort was destroyed in a fire, but was quickly rebuilt and reopened for business. The number of recreational visitor continued to increase throughout the 1950s, with as many as 5,000 people visiting the lake on some weekends. In 1958, Oregon Route 140 was completed. This provided residents of Klamath Falls
and Medford
with easy access to the lake.
In 1961, the Forest Service transferred Lake of the Woods and the surrounding forest to the newly formed Winema National Forest
. In 2002, the Winema National Forest was administratively combined with the Fremont National Forest
, becoming the Fremont-Winema National Forests. Today, Lake of the Woods remains a very popular recreation site. The lake and surrounding forest is managed by the Klamath Ranger District and its fishery is managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
. Most of the lake water comes from groundwater seepage. However, there are also three creeks that flow into the lake. Rainbow Creek is a year around tributary while Billie Creek and Dry Creeks have only seasonal flows. The lake’s only outlet flows into Great Meadow, a wetland at the northeast end of the lake. Great Meadow drains into Seldom Creek, which flows into Upper Klamath Lake
. Lake of the Woods only discharges water in the spring. During the dryer summer and fall months, lake water is lost only through groundwater seepage and evaporation
.
The watershed that drains into Lake of the Woods covers 26 square miles (67.3 km²). The watershed is covered by a mixed conifer forest that receives an average of 30 inches (762 mm) to 44 inches (1,117.6 mm) of precipitation
annually. The primary tree species in the watershed are Douglas-fir
and white fir
. The watershed also has some ponderosa pine
, lodgepole pine
, and aspen
. While logging
and reforestation
have affected forest composition, approximately 75 percent of the trees in the watershed are between 80–800 years. As a result, much of the watershed is covered by a dense forest canopy.
There have been a number of studies looking at the lake’s environment and water quality. Oregon State University
published studies of the lake environment in 1972 and 1985. In 1992, Rogue Community College
began monitoring water quality in the lake. Some of the parameters that are regularly tested include depth, temperature, pH
, dissolved oxygen, transmissivity, turbidity
, Secchi depth, chlorophyll
, bacteria
, total phosphorus
, orthophosphate, alkalinity
, and total dissolved solids. In 1996, the United States Geological Survey
conducted a high resolution acoustic survey and drilled sediment cores from the lake. In 2002, Portland State University
reported the finding of the volunteer monitors in their Lake Watch program. The monitors found some variation in the water transparency and seasonal patterns of hypolimnetic
oxygen
depletion. In 2004, the Winema National Forest studied the impact of recreation residential permits on the lake environment. The assessment identified the early signs of shoreline erosion
. While these studies produced some cautionary finding; taken overall, the studies indicate that the Lake of the Woods ecosystem is handling the stress of human use relatively well.
While the water quality in Lake of the Woods has not been significantly degraded by heavy recreational use, additional development could exceed the lake’s tolerance level. To prevent this, the Forest Service began taking proactive steps to preserve the lake’s water quality in the mid-1990s. These actions include closing some roads near the lake, funding a number of road drainage improvement projects, and initiating a soil conservation education program. The Forest Service also encourages cabin owners to install new septic systems and actively promotes the use of low phosphate
detergents in the Lake of the Woods community. It also created the Dry Creek Riparian Reserve to restrict development. When studies indicated increasing use of motorized watercraft was contributing to shoreline erosion, the Forest Service amended Lake of the Woods recreational residence permits to require permit holder to plant native vegetation along the shoreline of the lake and prohibited the removal of naturally fallen trees along the shoreline. So far, these measures have been successful in protecting the lake’s water quality and minimizing shoreline erosion.
is in oligotrophic to mesotrophic range.
The first fish survey at Lake of the Woods was conducted in 1941. However, the lake had been regularly stocked with non-native fish for many years before the survey so it is impossible to know what fish species were native to the lake. In 1947, researcher from Oregon State University interviewed several people who had fished at the lake in the late nineteenth century, before any non-nature fish were introduced into the lake. Based on those interviews, the researchers concluded that rainbow trout
, tui chub
, and possibly one or more sucker
species may have been native to the lake. However, a University of Michigan
study done for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife concluded that there were no sucker species native to the lake. That report suggested the redband trout
were probably the only species native to the lake.
Lake of the Woods was stocked for the first time in 1913. This introduced hatchery-breed rainbow trout in to the lake. This stocking produce a decade of good trout fishing
. In 1922, the Oregon State Game Commission (a predecessor to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) stocked the lake with largemouth bass
, black crappie, bluegill
, yellow perch
, warmouth
, pumpkinseed sunfish
, brown bullhead
s, carp
, and perhaps suckers. The yellow perch quickly became the lake’s dominant species, out-competing the trout for both food and habitat. Between 1925 and 1935, brook trout
, cutthroat trout
, chinook salmon
, coho salmon
, and steelhead were also introduced into the lake. No additional rainbow trout were stocked until 1946. The trout population remained relatively stable until about 1938 when the salmonid populations began to decline, probably due to competition from the warm water species combined with limited spawning areas and increasing fishing. Despite the Game Commission’s efforts to control the warm water species, their population continued to proliferate while the salmonid species declined. In 1955, the entire lake was poisoned with rotenone
, killing all the fish in the lake. The lake was then restocked with rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee salmon.
Today, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the Lake of the Woods fishery. It used both natural production and stocking to maintain and balance of fish populations. Brook trout, black crappie, brown bullheads, yellow perch, largemouth bass, blue chub
, and tui chub have self-sustaining populations while the kokanee salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout populations are supplemented by stocking. The kokanee salmon caught in Lake of the Woods average 12 inches (304.8 mm); the brown trout average 14 inches (355.6 mm) to 19 inches (482.6 mm); and most rainbow trout are about 10 inches (254 mm), but a few reach up to 2 pounds.
In addition to fish, the lake provide habitat for a wide variety of bird species. From the Forest Service campgrounds along the lake shore birdwatchers can see grebes, ducks, geese, an occasionally Common Loons. The lake also attracts birds of prey including Osprey
and Bald Eagles. In the forest around the lake, there are Mountain Chickadee
s, Western Tanager
s, Red-breasted Nuthatch
, Yellow-rumped Warbler
, , Red Crossbills, Hermit Thrush
, Golden-crowned Kinglet
, Steller's Jay
s, Gray Jay
s, Vaux's Swift
s, Common Nighthawk
, Hairy Woodpecker
s, Downy Woodpecker
s, Hairy Woodpecker
s, and Pileated Woodpecker
s. The forest is also home to a number of owl species including Great Horned Owl
s, Great Gray Owls, Northern Spotted Owl
s, Northern Saw-whet Owl
s, and Northern Pygmy-Owl.
During the summer the lake is a popular place for swimming, fishing, canoeing
, boating
, and water skiing
. There are also trails near the lake for hiking
, biking, and horseback riding. In the winter, the lake is used for ice fishing
. In 1998, the Forest Service estimated the lake hosted 320,000 recreational visitor days (one person staying at the lake for one day equals one visitor day). The nearby Great Meadows area is now a very popular winter recreation site, especially for snowmobile
riders and cross-country skiers
. The Forest Service estimated the area had 53,300 winter visitors in 2000. A private development near the lake will add 115 homes, increasing recreational use of the lake.
. Its elevation is 4949 feet (1,508.5 m) above sea level. The lake is surrounded by the Winema National Forest.
Lake of the Woods is 33 miles (53.1 km) west of Klamath Fall and 43 miles (69.2 km) east of Medford, Oregon. The small unincorporated community of Lake of the Woods, Oregon
is located on the east shore of the lake, approximate 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) south of Oregon Route 140. There is a Forest Service visitor center at the historic Lake of the Woods Ranger Station at the north end of the lake, just of the Route 140. The visitor center is open during the summer.
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...
in southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The lake covers 1146 acres (4.6 km²). The lake was named by Oliver C. Applegate in 1870. Today, the lake is part of the Fremont-Winema National Forests
Fremont-Winema National Forests
The Fremont–Winema National Forests are two United States National Forests, Fremont National Forest and Winema National Forest, that were administratively combined in 2002. They cover territory in southern Oregon from the crest of the Cascades on the west, past the city of Lakeview to the east. ...
. The 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....
manages the lake’s fishery. The small unincorporated community of Lake of the Woods, Oregon
Lake of the Woods, Oregon
Lake of the Woods is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is located on the east shore of the lake of the same name within the Winema National Forest, about a mile south of Oregon Route 140....
is located on the east shore of the lake. Lake of the Woods is one of southern Oregon’s most popular outdoor recreation sites.
History
Lake of the Woods was named by Oregon pioneer Oliver C. Applegate while he was building a road near the lake in 1870. Applegate also built a cabin at the south end of the lake, becoming the area’s first resident.Lake of the Woods became part of the Cascade Forest Reserve
Cascade Range Forest Reserve
The Cascade Range Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in Oregon on September 28, 1893 with . After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, the forest was expanded and renamed Cascade National Forest on March 2, 1907. The lands are presently...
in 1898. The lake was managed as part of that Cascade Reserve until 1908, when the area was transferred to the Crater National Forest
Crater National Forest
Crater National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon on July 1, 1908 with from portions of Cascade, Klamath and, Siskiyou National Forests as well as all of Ashland National Forest. On July 18, 1915 part of Paulina National Forest was added, and on July 9, 1932 the forest's...
. The United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
issued the first residential use permit for a private cabin near Lake of the Woods in 1916. In 1920, the Forest Service built a public campground along the lake shore. The site was very popular, with 1,850 summer visitors recorded the first year it was open. In 1923, the road into the lake area was improved, and a second campground was built to accommodate the increasing number of recreational visitors. In 1926, the Forest Service issued a permit allowing the Lake of the Woods Recreation Company to build a resort at the lake.
In 1932, Lake of the Woods and the lakeside campgrounds were transferred to the Rogue River National Forest along with the surrounding forest. In the mid-1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
began work at the Lake of the Woods Ranger Station
Lake of the Woods Ranger Station
The Lake of the Woods Ranger Station is a United States Forest Service compound consisting of eight buildings overlooking Lake of the Woods in the Fremont-Winema National Forests of southern Oregon. All of the ranger station structures were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1937 and...
at the north end of the lake. Civilian Conservation Corps crews built an office, residences, and a number of work building at the ranger station. The Civilian Conservation Corps also expanded and improved the road network around the lake.
In 1937, there were 120 summer homes around Lake of the Woods. The next year, power lines brought electricity to the area for the first time. By 1948, the number of summer home at the lake had grown to 200. There were also four organizational summer camps located around the lake. In 1951, the resort was destroyed in a fire, but was quickly rebuilt and reopened for business. The number of recreational visitor continued to increase throughout the 1950s, with as many as 5,000 people visiting the lake on some weekends. In 1958, Oregon Route 140 was completed. This provided residents of Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
and Medford
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
with easy access to the lake.
In 1961, the Forest Service transferred Lake of the Woods and the surrounding forest to the newly formed Winema National Forest
Winema National Forest
The Winema National Forest is a United States National Forest in Klamath County on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in south-central Oregon, and covers . The forest borders Crater Lake National Park near the crest of the Cascades and stretches eastward into the Klamath Basin...
. In 2002, the Winema National Forest was administratively combined with the Fremont National Forest
Fremont National Forest
The Fremont National Forest is a United States National Forest named after John C. Frémont, who explored the area for the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1843. It is located in western Lake and eastern Klamath counties in Oregon, and has a land area of . There are local ranger district...
, becoming the Fremont-Winema National Forests. Today, Lake of the Woods remains a very popular recreation site. The lake and surrounding forest is managed by the Klamath Ranger District and its fishery is managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Watershed
Lake of the Woods is located near the crest the Cascade Range in southern Oregon, 7 miles (11.3 km) southeast of Mount McLoughlinMount McLoughlin
Mount McLoughlin is a steep-sided lava cone built on top of a shield volcano in the Cascade Range of southern Oregon and within the Sky Lakes Wilderness area. It is one of the volcanic peaks in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. The mountain is north of Mount Shasta, south of Crater Lake, and west of Upper...
. Most of the lake water comes from groundwater seepage. However, there are also three creeks that flow into the lake. Rainbow Creek is a year around tributary while Billie Creek and Dry Creeks have only seasonal flows. The lake’s only outlet flows into Great Meadow, a wetland at the northeast end of the lake. Great Meadow drains into Seldom Creek, which flows into Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake east of the Cascade Range in south central Oregon in the United States. The largest freshwater body in Oregon, it is approximately 20 mi long and 8 mi wide and extends northwest from the city of Klamath Falls...
. Lake of the Woods only discharges water in the spring. During the dryer summer and fall months, lake water is lost only through groundwater seepage and evaporation
Evaporation
Evaporation is a type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs only on the surface of a liquid. The other type of vaporization is boiling, which, instead, occurs on the entire mass of the liquid....
.
The watershed that drains into Lake of the Woods covers 26 square miles (67.3 km²). The watershed is covered by a mixed conifer forest that receives an average of 30 inches (762 mm) to 44 inches (1,117.6 mm) of precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
annually. The primary tree species in the watershed are Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
and white fir
White Fir
White Fir is a fir native to the mountains of western North America, occurring at altitudes of 900-3,400 m. It is a medium to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 25–60 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m . It is popular as an ornamental landscaping tree and as a Christmas Tree...
. The watershed also has some ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
, lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
, and aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
. While logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and reforestation
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
have affected forest composition, approximately 75 percent of the trees in the watershed are between 80–800 years. As a result, much of the watershed is covered by a dense forest canopy.
Lake environment
Lake of the Woods is a natural lake that covers 1146 acres (4.6 km²). It is approximately 2.75 miles (4.4 km) long and 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide. The lake has an average depth of 27 feet (8.2 m) with a maximum depth of 55 feet (16.8 m) near the western shore. The water levels in Lake of the Woods only fluctuate about 2 foot (0.6096 m) during a normal year. The surface water normally warms to the low 70s F in the summer and freezes in the winter. The lake’s bottom is 52 percent detritus, 19 percent sand, 15 percent vegetation, 11 percent rock, and 3 percent mud.There have been a number of studies looking at the lake’s environment and water quality. Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
published studies of the lake environment in 1972 and 1985. In 1992, Rogue Community College
Rogue Community College
Rogue Community College is a 2-year, community college with campuses in both Jackson County and Josephine County, falling roughly in the geographic region known as the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon.-Accreditation:...
began monitoring water quality in the lake. Some of the parameters that are regularly tested include depth, temperature, pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
, dissolved oxygen, transmissivity, turbidity
Turbidity
Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality....
, Secchi depth, chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
, bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
, total phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
, orthophosphate, alkalinity
Alkalinity
Alkalinity or AT measures the ability of a solution to neutralize acids to the equivalence point of carbonate or bicarbonate. The alkalinity is equal to the stoichiometric sum of the bases in solution...
, and total dissolved solids. In 1996, the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The 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,...
conducted a high resolution acoustic survey and drilled sediment cores from the lake. In 2002, Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
reported the finding of the volunteer monitors in their Lake Watch program. The monitors found some variation in the water transparency and seasonal patterns of hypolimnetic
Hypolimnion
The hypolimnion is the dense, bottom layer of water in a thermally-stratified lake. It is the layer that lies below the thermocline.Typically the hypolimnion is the coldest layer of a lake in summer, and the warmest layer during winter...
oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
depletion. In 2004, the Winema National Forest studied the impact of recreation residential permits on the lake environment. The assessment identified the early signs of shoreline erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
. While these studies produced some cautionary finding; taken overall, the studies indicate that the Lake of the Woods ecosystem is handling the stress of human use relatively well.
While the water quality in Lake of the Woods has not been significantly degraded by heavy recreational use, additional development could exceed the lake’s tolerance level. To prevent this, the Forest Service began taking proactive steps to preserve the lake’s water quality in the mid-1990s. These actions include closing some roads near the lake, funding a number of road drainage improvement projects, and initiating a soil conservation education program. The Forest Service also encourages cabin owners to install new septic systems and actively promotes the use of low phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
detergents in the Lake of the Woods community. It also created the Dry Creek Riparian Reserve to restrict development. When studies indicated increasing use of motorized watercraft was contributing to shoreline erosion, the Forest Service amended Lake of the Woods recreational residence permits to require permit holder to plant native vegetation along the shoreline of the lake and prohibited the removal of naturally fallen trees along the shoreline. So far, these measures have been successful in protecting the lake’s water quality and minimizing shoreline erosion.
Ecology
Due to a lack of historic data for Lake of the Woods, the natural conditions of the lake cannot be established. However, the lake’s trophic stateTrophic state index
The quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other biologically useful nutrients are theprimary determinants of a body of water's trophic state index...
is in oligotrophic to mesotrophic range.
The first fish survey at Lake of the Woods was conducted in 1941. However, the lake had been regularly stocked with non-native fish for many years before the survey so it is impossible to know what fish species were native to the lake. In 1947, researcher from Oregon State University interviewed several people who had fished at the lake in the late nineteenth century, before any non-nature fish were introduced into the lake. Based on those interviews, the researchers concluded that 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....
, tui chub
Tui chub
The Tui chub, Gila bicolor, is a cyprinid fish native to western North America. Widespread in many areas, it is an important food source for other fish, including the cutthroat trout.- Range :...
, and possibly one or more sucker
Catostomidae
Catostomidae is the sucker family of the order Cypriniformes. There are 80 species in this family of freshwater fishes. Catostomidae are found in North America, east central China, and eastern Siberia...
species may have been native to the lake. However, a University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
study done for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife concluded that there were no sucker species native to the lake. That report suggested the redband trout
Redband trout
Redband trout is a fish name that may be a synonym for the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, but is also used more narrowly for inland subspecies with well-defined geographical distributions in the United States...
were probably the only species native to the lake.
Lake of the Woods was stocked for the first time in 1913. This introduced hatchery-breed rainbow trout in to the lake. This stocking produce a decade of good trout fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. In 1922, the Oregon State Game Commission (a predecessor to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) stocked the lake with largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, black crappie, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, yellow perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, warmouth
Warmouth
The common name of Lepomis gulosus is the warmouth. It is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee.-Introduction:The following is a description of a monitoring plan for the Warmouth . One of the eleven species in the Lepomis genus, the species name gulosus refers to the warmouths big eyes...
, pumpkinseed sunfish
Pumpkinseed
The pumpkinseed sunfish is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family of order Perciformes. It is also referred to as "pond perch", "common sunfish", "punkys", and "sunny".-Range and distribution:...
, brown bullhead
Brown bullhead
The brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus, is a fish of the Ictaluridae family that is widely distributed in North America. It is a species of bullhead catfish and is similar to the black bullhead and yellow bullhead...
s, carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, and perhaps suckers. The yellow perch quickly became the lake’s dominant species, out-competing the trout for both food and habitat. Between 1925 and 1935, brook trout
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
, cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
, chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
, coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, and steelhead were also introduced into the lake. No additional rainbow trout were stocked until 1946. The trout population remained relatively stable until about 1938 when the salmonid populations began to decline, probably due to competition from the warm water species combined with limited spawning areas and increasing fishing. Despite the Game Commission’s efforts to control the warm water species, their population continued to proliferate while the salmonid species declined. In 1955, the entire lake was poisoned with rotenone
Rotenone
Rotenone is an odorless chemical that is used as a broad-spectrum insecticide, piscicide, and pesticide. It occurs naturally in the roots and stems of several plants such as the jicama vine plant...
, killing all the fish in the lake. The lake was then restocked with rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee salmon.
Today, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the Lake of the Woods fishery. It used both natural production and stocking to maintain and balance of fish populations. Brook trout, black crappie, brown bullheads, yellow perch, largemouth bass, blue chub
Blue chub
The blue chub Gila coerulea is a cyprinid fish found in the Klamath River and Lost River drainages of far northern California and southern Oregon....
, and tui chub have self-sustaining populations while the kokanee salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout populations are supplemented by stocking. The kokanee salmon caught in Lake of the Woods average 12 inches (304.8 mm); the brown trout average 14 inches (355.6 mm) to 19 inches (482.6 mm); and most rainbow trout are about 10 inches (254 mm), but a few reach up to 2 pounds.
In addition to fish, the lake provide habitat for a wide variety of bird species. From the Forest Service campgrounds along the lake shore birdwatchers can see grebes, ducks, geese, an occasionally Common Loons. The lake also attracts birds of prey including Osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
and Bald Eagles. In the forest around the lake, there are Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
The Mountain Chickadee is a small songbird, a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. Often, it is still placed in the genus Parus with most other tits, but mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data and morphology suggest that separating Poecile more adequately expresses these birds' relationships...
s, Western Tanager
Western Tanager
The Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana, is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family...
s, Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
The Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, is a small songbird. The adult has blue-grey upperparts with cinnamon underparts, a white throat and face with a black stripe through the eyes, a straight grey bill and a black crown. Its call, which has been likened to a tin trumpet, is high-pitched...
, Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Four closely related North American bird forms—the eastern Myrtle Warbler , its western counterpart, Audubon's Warbler , the northwest Mexican Black-fronted Warbler , and the Guatemalan Goldman's Warbler —are periodically lumped as the Yellow-rumped Warbler .-Classification:Since...
, , Red Crossbills, Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush
The Hermit Thrush is a medium-sized North American thrush. It is not very closely related to the other North American migrant species of Catharus, but rather to the Mexican Russet Nightingale-thrush.-Description:...
, Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
The Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa, is a very small songbird.Adults are olive-gray on the upperparts with white underparts, with thin bills and short tails. They have white wing bars, a black stripe through the eyes and a yellow crown surrounded by black...
, Steller's Jay
Steller's Jay
The Steller's Jay is a jay native to western North America, closely related to the Blue Jay found in the rest of the continent, but with a black head and upper body. It is also known as the Long-crested Jay, Mountain Jay, and Pine Jay...
s, Gray Jay
Gray Jay
The Gray Jay , also Grey Jay, Canada Jay, or Whiskey Jack, is a member of the crow and jay family found in the boreal forests across North America north to the tree-line and in subalpine forests of the Rocky Mountains south to New Mexico and Arizona...
s, Vaux's Swift
Vaux's Swift
Vaux's Swift is a small swift native to North America and northern South America. It was named for the American scientist William Sansom Vaux.-Description:...
s, Common Nighthawk
Common Nighthawk
The Common Nighthawk is a medium-sized crepuscular or nocturnal bird, whose presence and identity are best revealed by its vocalization. Typically dark , displaying cryptic colouration and intricate patterns, this bird becomes invisible by day. Once aerial, with its buoyant but erratic flight,...
, Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, averaging approximately 250 mm in length with a 380 mm wingspan...
s, Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker, the smallest in North America.- Description :Adult Downy Woodpeckers are mainly black on the upperparts and wings, with a white back, throat and belly and white spotting on the wings. There is a white bar above the eye and one below. They have a...
s, Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, averaging approximately 250 mm in length with a 380 mm wingspan...
s, and Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker is a very large North American woodpecker, almost crow-sized, inhabiting deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast. It is also the largest woodpecker in America.Adults are long, and weigh...
s. The forest is also home to a number of owl species including Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...
s, Great Gray Owls, Northern Spotted Owl
Northern Spotted Owl
The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina, is one of three Spotted Owl subspecies. A Western North American bird in the family Strigidae, genus Strix, it is a medium-sized dark brown owl sixteen to nineteen inches in length and one to one and one sixth pounds. Females are larger than males...
s, Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small owl native to North America.-Description:The scientific description of one of the sub-species of this owl is attributed to the Rev. John Henry Keen who was a missionary in Canada in 1896. Adults are long with a wingspan. They can weigh from with an average...
s, and Northern Pygmy-Owl.
Recreation
Today, Lake of the Woods is a very popular recreation site. There are 218 summer homes around the lake. All of these homes require Forest Service recreational residence permits. There are two campgrounds with 124 campsites on the east shore of the lake. Aspen Point campground has 60 campsites and Sunset campground has 64 campsites. There are also two day-use areas for swimming and picnicking. There are three organizational camps near the lake. A year-around resort provides a restaurant, store, and rental cabins.During the summer the lake is a popular place for swimming, fishing, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, and water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
. There are also trails near the lake for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, biking, and horseback riding. In the winter, the lake is used for ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
. In 1998, the Forest Service estimated the lake hosted 320,000 recreational visitor days (one person staying at the lake for one day equals one visitor day). The nearby Great Meadows area is now a very popular winter recreation site, especially for snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
riders and cross-country skiers
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. The Forest Service estimated the area had 53,300 winter visitors in 2000. A private development near the lake will add 115 homes, increasing recreational use of the lake.
Location
Lake of the Woods is located near the crest of the Cascade Mountains is in western Klamath County, OregonKlamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
. Its elevation is 4949 feet (1,508.5 m) above sea level. The lake is surrounded by the Winema National Forest.
Lake of the Woods is 33 miles (53.1 km) west of Klamath Fall and 43 miles (69.2 km) east of Medford, Oregon. The small unincorporated community of Lake of the Woods, Oregon
Lake of the Woods, Oregon
Lake of the Woods is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is located on the east shore of the lake of the same name within the Winema National Forest, about a mile south of Oregon Route 140....
is located on the east shore of the lake, approximate 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) south of Oregon Route 140. There is a Forest Service visitor center at the historic Lake of the Woods Ranger Station at the north end of the lake, just of the Route 140. The visitor center is open during the summer.