USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

14159400 COUGAR LAKE NEAR RAINBOW, OR

LOCATION - Lat 44°07'38.54", long 122°14'41.08" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in SE 1/4 SE 1/4 sec.31, T.16 S., R.5 E., Lane County, OR, Hydrologic Unit 17090004, Willamette National Forest, in intake tower near left end of Cougar Dam on South Fork McKenzie River, 2.7 mi south of Rainbow, and at mile 4.4.

DRAINAGE AREA - 207 mi².

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1963 to September 2003, September 2013 to current year. Prior to October 1971, published as Cougar Reservoir near Rainbow.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is NGVD of 1929 (levels by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).

COOPERATION - Capacity table furnished by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

REMARKS - Lake is formed by earthfill dam with concrete spillway completed in 1963 by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; storage began September 1963. Total capacity is 200,000 acre-ft at elevation 1,699 ft, maximum pool, and active capacity is 156,500 acre-ft between elevations 1,516 ft, minimum power pool, and 1,699 ft. Lake's primary purposes are flood risk management, hydropower, water quality improvement, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and improved navigation. Month-end contents and change in contents discontinued water year 2014.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum contents, 215,900 acre-ft Apr. 28, 1990, elevation, 1,696.51 ft; minimum contents, 5,930 acre-ft June 15, Sept. 15, 2002, elevation, 1,399.00 ft.