Wickiup Reservoir
Deschutes County, Oregon11,330 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 12 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Wickiup Reservoir in Deschutes County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Surface area: 11330 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.2 ft
- Area
- 11,330 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.7 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Wickiup Reservoir’s letter
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Wickiup Reservoir is a 11,330-acre mesotrophic lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Deschutes County, Wickiup Reservoir ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Wickiup Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.2 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping4 public campgrounds nearby
- Big water11,330 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Wickiup Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.2 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.7 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 11,330 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Wickiup Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Reservoir CampgroundPublic
- Gull Point CampgroundPublic
- North WickiupPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Wickiup Reservoir
- Gull Point1.3 km
- South Twin Lake2.8 km
- West South Twin2.8 km
- Reservoir3.1 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 Wickiup Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wickiup Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wickiup Dam (completed 1949), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Deschutes River; earth-type dam, 100 ft tall and 13,860 ft long.
- Surface area
- 11,330 ac
- Normal storage
- 200,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 202,170 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 272.23 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID OR00276 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Wickiup 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_1707030102_05_100062 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 12 lakes in Deschutes County
Nearby Lakes in Deschutes County
Frequently asked questions about Wickiup Reservoir
Where is Wickiup Reservoir?
- Wickiup Reservoir is a lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wickiup Reservoir?
- Wickiup Reservoir in Deschutes County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Surface area: 11330 acres.
Is Wickiup Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Wickiup Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Wickiup Reservoir?
- Wickiup Reservoir has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Reservoir Campground, Gull Point Campground, North Wickiup. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Wickiup Reservoir?
- Wickiup Reservoir has 4 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Gull Point, South Twin Lake, West South Twin, Reservoir. 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 Wickiup Reservoir across LakeQuality
23.5 mi away · 80 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Oregon's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Oregon's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Oregon Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Oregon
Mesotrophic Lakes in Oregon
Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ28 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- 2012 National Lakes Assessment Field Operations Manual
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Standard Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Above 1 Turbidity Unit (TU) in Static Mode
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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