Bully Creek Reservoir

Bully Creek Reservoir
Swallows hovering over Bully Creek Dam overlooking Bully Creek
Bully Creek Reservoir Location of Bully Creek Reservoir in Oregon, USA. Show map of Oregon Bully Creek Reservoir Bully Creek Reservoir (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Malheur County, Oregon
Coordinates	44.013216°N 117.396017°W / 44.013216; -117.396017
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Bully Creek
Primary outflows	Bully Creek
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	985 acres (399 ha)
Water volume	31,650 acre⋅ft (39,040,000 m^3)
Surface elevation	2,500 ft (760 m)
References	[1]

Boy diving off a dock in Bully Creek Reservoir.

Bully Creek Reservoir is a reservoir in Malheur County of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is an impoundment of Bully Creek, a tributary of the Malheur River.

It is a crescent-shaped reservoir located 9 miles (14 km) west of Vale and a 45-minute drive from I-84. The reservoir and its dam have paved road access by Bully Creek Road from Vale W Highway. The reservoir was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1963[2] and has 985 acres (399 ha) with 7 miles (11 km) of shoreline and a total capacity of 31,650 acre-feet (39,040,000 m^3). The dam is a zoned embankment dam with a crest length of 3,070 feet (940 m), total height of 121 feet (37 m) and sits at 2,500 feet (760 m) elevation.[3] The Bully Creek park is open April through October, has 33 campsites, a day use area with two covered shelters, a swimming beach and a two-lane boat ramp with dock.

Natural history

Aerial view to the northwest

Fish species include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black bass, rainbow trout, yellow perch, white, and black crappie. The reservoir is used as a resting place by migratory waterfowl with some ducks remaining to nest. Sparse vegetative cover of sagebrush and grass provides habitat for small mammals and birds.[4]

Migrating birds flock the forested areas surrounding the reservoir. Loons, grebes, ducks, and hawks are often seen year round. Rock wrens and golden eagles are occasionally spotted in a nearby red rock formation.[5]

See also

• List of lakes in Oregon

References

1. "Bully Creek Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
2. The Bully Creek Extension was authorized as a part of the Vale Project by the Act of September 9, 1959 (73 Stat. 478, Public Law 86-248). "Irrigation, flood control, recreation, and the preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife are purposes of the Bully Creek Extension." Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office. See [1]
3. "Bully Creek Dam". Archived from the original on 2009-01-18. U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Reclamation. Accessed 3 dec 2008.
4. "Bully Creek Dam Reservoir". Travel Oregon. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
5. "Bully Creek Reservoir, Oregon". Public Lands Information Center. Accessed 3 dec 2008.

External links

• "Graphic that shows end of boat ramp elevations". Bureau of Reclamation webpage.
• "Fishing Forecast for Bully Creek Reservoir". The Weather Channel.
• "Bully Creek Reservoir Fishing Reports". Archived from the original on 2009-05-19. Angler Guide.