The lake is connected by a short channel to the smaller Agency Lake to the north. Upper Klamath Lake is fed by a watershed of 3,768 square miles (9,760 km 2) including the Williamson and Wood Rivers, and is drained by the Klamath River (known here as the Link River), which issues from the south end of the lake. The lake level is kept within 4,137 to 4,143 ft (1,261 to 1,263 m) above sea level to ensure a viable fishery in the lake and to protect coho salmon in the Klamath River below the lake. The lake depth fluctuates due to regulation of its water supply, averaging between 8 and 50 feet (2.4 and 15.2 m) deep. The lake's water has been used to support the federal Klamath Project for irrigation by local farmers for a century. In the early 20th century, most of the wetlands and marshes surrounding the lake were drained for agricultural purposes, damaging the larger habitat. It sits at an average elevation of 4,140 feet (1,260 m). The largest body of fresh water by surface area in Oregon, it is approximately 25 miles (40 km) long and 8 miles (13 km) wide and extends northwest from the city of Klamath Falls. Upper Klamath Lake (sometimes called Klamath Lake) ( Klamath: ?ews, "lake" ) is a large, shallow freshwater lake east of the Cascade Range in south-central Oregon in the United States. ![]() Williamson River, Wood River, Crooked Creek, Fourmile Creekġ Shore length is not a well-defined measure. So we backtracked to the main lake where we talked to some local fishermen in a rowboat. The current was flowing in the wrong direction…we were not paddling on the Mud Lake outlet, but rather the Mud Lake inlet. In fact this was one of the nicer marsh paddles I’ve ever done.īut soon we discovered a problem. In the distance there were attractive stands of tamaracks very much giving this an up-north feel. This is a big deal as most marsh paddles tend to be cattail and reed canary grass cities and to see native marsh plants is a big deal. ![]() The water started to clear up, and native grasses and sedges displaced the invasive cattails. We kept circling the lake counter-clockwise until we finally found Rock Creek.Īfter we entered the creek, the scenery changed dramatically. We did encounter one bay at the north end that seemed like it was the outlet, but it was walled shut by cattails. We hugged the right shoreline looking for the outlet of the lake (aka Rock Creek). A while back it supposedly used to be much deeper (65′ in spots) and locals used to water ski here, but since then the lake has filled in considerably for unknown reasons, and motors are now prohibited. It’s a peaceful and ok paddle, but nothing special. Mud Lake is an undeveloped kettle lake surround by a monoculture of cattails and a few nice patches of bullhead lilies. A boardwalk paralleled the canal and at the mouth there was a nice fishing pier overlooking the entire lake. Here the channel was teaming with wildlife and with marsh plants like lilies. Connecting the landing to the lake, was a 500′ long canal which happened to be one of the trip highlights. A series of canals and old drainage ditches flow west through the campground and then combine at the main boat ramp. We started the trip at Sandhill Station Campground which is a state park located south of Lake Mills. ![]() A few weeks later I had the opportunity to car scout the area and liked what I saw…so on my paddling to-do list it went. ![]() Included were a number of landings along upper Rock Creek which I didn’t realize existed. Crawfish River at Milford 870 CFS or 3.54'Įarlier this spring I came across a brochure called “ Glacial Heritage Area Water Trails” which provided some interesting kayak access locations between Madison and Milwaukee.
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