Crane Prairie Reservoir
Deschutes County, Oregon4,940 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #10 of 12 in the county
- Public access
Crane Prairie Reservoir in Deschutes County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Surface area: 4940 acres.
- Area
- 4,940 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 40 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crane Prairie Reservoir in Deschutes County, Oregon — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Crane Prairie Reservoir are listed below.
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Crane Prairie Reservoir is a 4,940-acre mesotrophic lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Deschutes County, Crane Prairie Reservoir ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-10-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Crane Prairie Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
- Big water4,940 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Crane Prairie Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 4,940 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Crane Prairie Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Sheep Bridge CampgroundPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Crane Prairie Reservoir
- Sheep Bridge2.5 km
- North Twin Lake3.0 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Crane Prairie Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.1 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.28 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Crane Prairie Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crane Prairie Dam (completed 1940), built primarily for irrigation on the Deschutes River; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 285 ft long.
- Surface area
- 4,940 ac
- Normal storage
- 55,330 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 68,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 184.93 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID OR00279 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Crane Prairie Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit OR_LK_1707030101_05_100050 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 12 lakes in Deschutes County
Nearby Lakes in Deschutes County
Frequently asked questions about Crane Prairie Reservoir
Where is Crane Prairie Reservoir?
- Crane Prairie Reservoir is a lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Crane Prairie Reservoir?
- Crane Prairie Reservoir in Deschutes County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Surface area: 4940 acres.
Is Crane Prairie Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Crane Prairie Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Crane Prairie Reservoir?
- Crane Prairie Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sheep Bridge Campground. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Crane Prairie Reservoir?
- Crane Prairie Reservoir has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Sheep Bridge, North Twin Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Crane Prairie Reservoir across LakeQuality
More Oregon Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Oregon
Douglas County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · 4.6 ft
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · 5.6 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Oregon
Where this data comes from
4,165 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ4,165 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Multiparameter Water Quality Sonde
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- YSI
- Standard Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Above 1 Turbidity Unit (TU) in Static Mode
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles