Hills Creek Reservoir

Hills Creek Reservoir
Aerial view
Location of Hills Creek Reservoir in Oregon, USA.
Location of Hills Creek Reservoir in Oregon, USA.
Hills Creek Reservoir
Location of Hills Creek Reservoir in Oregon, USA.
Location of Hills Creek Reservoir in Oregon, USA.
Hills Creek Reservoir
LocationLane County, Oregon
Coordinates43°40′16″N 122°25′33″W / 43.67111°N 122.42583°W / 43.67111; -122.42583
TypeReservoir, mesotrophic
Primary inflowsMiddle Fork Willamette River
Primary outflowsMiddle Fork Willamette River
Catchment area389 square miles (1,010 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area2,735 acres (1,107 ha)
Average depth130 feet (40 m)
Max. depth299 feet (91 m)
Water volume356,000 acre-feet (439,000,000 m3)
Residence time1.4 months
Shore length132 miles (51 km)
Surface elevation1,545 feet (471 m)
SettlementsOakridge
References[1][2][3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Hills Creek Reservoir, also known as Hills Creek Lake, is an artificial impoundment behind Hills Creek Dam on the Middle Fork Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The lake is near Oakridge in Lane County about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Eugene, at the confluence of Hills Creek with the Middle Fork. The reservoir and its watershed lie within the Willamette National Forest.[1]

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created the lake in 1961 when it built the dam, primarily to control floods and generate hydroelectricity. Since then, the lake has become a popular recreation site with parks, boat launches, and a fishery.[1]

Hills Creek was named for John J. Hill, who settled near the mouth of the creek in 1870. The dam and lake take their names from the creek.[4]

  1. ^ a b c Johnson, Daniel M.; Petersen, Richard R.; Lycan, D. Richard; Sweet, James W.; Neuhaus, Mark E., and Schaedel, Andrew L. (1985). Atlas of Oregon Lakes. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. p. 86. ISBN 0-87071-343-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Atlas of Oregon Lakes: Hills Creek Lake (Lane County)". Portland State University. 1985–2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  3. ^ "Hills Creek Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. May 22, 1986. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  4. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 468. ISBN 978-0875952772.