Payette Lake

Payette Lake
Panoramic view of southern shore in McCall
Location of Payette Lake in Idaho, USA.
Location of Payette Lake in Idaho, USA.
Payette Lake
Location in the United States
Location of Payette Lake in Idaho, USA.
Location of Payette Lake in Idaho, USA.
Payette Lake
Location in Idaho
LocationValley County, Idaho, U.S.
Coordinates44°57′N 116°05′W / 44.95°N 116.09°W / 44.95; -116.09[1]
Primary inflowsNorth Fork Payette River
Primary outflowsNorth Fork Payette River
Catchment area144 square miles (373 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length6 miles (9.7 km)
Max. width2.25 miles (3.62 km)
Surface area4,986.7 acres (2,018.0 ha)[2]
Average depth121 feet (36.8 m)
Max. depth304 feet (92.7 m)
Water volume0.18 cubic miles (0.75 km3)
Shore length122 miles (36 km)
Surface elevation4,990 feet (1,520 m)[1]
SettlementsMcCall, Idaho
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Payette Lake is a natural lake in the western United States, located in west central Idaho at McCall. Formed by glacial activity, it is situated in the upper drainage basin of the Payette River, which drains into the Snake River.

Outflow from the lake at its southwest corner is regulated for irrigation purposes by a small dam completed in 1943. The normal maximum lake surface elevation of 4,990 feet (1,520 m) above sea level is attained in July; a normal drawdown of 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 m) is completed by December.

The lake's surface area and volume, excluding islands, are 7.9 square miles (20.5 km2) and 0.18 cubic miles (0.75 km3), respectively; mean and maximum depths are 121 feet (36.8 m) and 304 feet (92.7 m), respectively; and shoreline length is about 22 miles (36 km).

The principal tributary and outlet is the North Fork of the Payette River. The lake receives drainage from 144 square miles (373 km2) of heavily forested, mountainous terrain.[3] Further south, the North Fork flows into Lake Cascade, the reservoir behind Cascade Dam.

  1. ^ a b "Payette Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference fishandgame was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference report was invoked but never defined (see the help page).