Lake Cascade (formerly Cascade Reservoir), is a reservoir in the western United States, on the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County, Idaho. Located in the Boise National Forest, it has a surface area of , and is the fourth largest lake or reservoir in the state. The closest cities are

Cascade Cascade, Cascades or Cascading may refer to: Science and technology Science *Cascade waterfalls, or series of waterfalls * Cascade, the CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense (a protein complex) * Cascade (grape), a type of fruit * Bioc ...

Donnelly Donnelly is a surname of Irish origin. It is the anglicized form of the Gaelic ''Ó Donnghaile'' meaning ‘descendant of Donnghal’ a given name composed of the elements "donn" (dark or brown), plus "gal" (valour). O'Donnelly is derived from ...

, and

McCall McCall is a Gaelic surname, of Irish and Scottish origin. Notable people with this surname include: * Andy McCall (footballer, born 1911) (1911–1979), Scottish footballer and manager *Andy McCall (footballer, born 1925) (1925–2014), Scottish f ...

, all in the Long Valley of Valley County. Following a delay due to World War II, the earthen dam was built by the Bureau of Reclamation, completed in 1948. The term "Lake Cascade" came into common use in the 1990s, with the federal name change made in 1999.

Recreation

The lake contains perch, trout, smallmouth bass, Kokanee salmon, and Coho salmon for anglers and there is a beautiful winter ice fishing season.

Lake Cascade State Park Lake Cascade State Park is a public recreation area consisting of multiple units totaling around Lake Cascade, an impoundment of the North Fork of the Payette River that covers in Valley County, Idaho, United States. The state park includes 2 ...

has several units around the lake.

Sport fish restoration

In 2003 the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) proposed draining Lake Cascade to facilitate the removal of pikeminnow and the addition of sport fish, such as perch.

Pikeminnows Pikeminnows, formerly squawfish, are cyprinid fish of the genus ''Ptychocheilus'' consisting of four species native to western North America. Voracious predators, they are considered an "undesirable" species in many waters, largely due to the spe ...

are considered problematic to sport fishing in Lake Cascade because they are predators that live up to 15 years and compete for food stocks. Issues involved in mitigating damage during the lowering of the lake level include maintaining an adequate supply for irrigation, providing a steady stream for power, maintaining salmon flow augmentation, and other water rights. The

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation The Bureau of Reclamation, and formerly the United States Reclamation Service, is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees water resource management, specifically as it applies to the oversight and opera ...

manages the reservoir and estimated the draining could take place over the course of a year at a cost of $100,000 to $300,000. The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation withdrew its application for an Environmental Impact Statement studying the drawdown citing "that the draining of Lake Cascade is not a viable option for sport fish restoration."

Water quality

The lake experienced a

bloom Bloom or blooming may refer to: Science and technology Biology * Bloom, one or more flowers on a flowering plant * Algal bloom, a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic system * Jellyfish bloom, a collective n ...

of blue-green algae in 1993 caused by low water, high phosphorus content, and hot weather. Studies of water quality found phosphorus to be present in high levels which contributed to the algal bloom. Beginning in 1995, the water quality was monitored and an improvement plan was implemented to lower the phosphorus by 37 percent. By 2003 the lake had 57 percent less phosphorus than the initial monitoring in 1995 due to the

best management practices Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporation, ...

adopted in the drainage basin of the lake.

Tamarack Resort

Tamarack Resort is located on the west shore of the reservoir, southwest of Donnelly.

References

External links

Idaho Fish and Game
— Cascade Reservoir
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
— Cascade Dam
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- major storage reservoirs in the Boise & Payette River basins - current levels & flows
Pictures of Cascade
– Cascade Dam spillway – June 2006 {{authority control

Buildings and structures in Valley County, Idaho

Protected areas of Valley County, Idaho Boise National Forest United States Bureau of Reclamation dams Dams completed in 1948