Ross Lake (Washington)

For the township, see Ross Lake Township, Minnesota.

Ross Lake
Location	Ross Lake National Recreation Area, Whatcom County, Washington, USA / Skagit Valley Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates	48°43′54″N 121°04′02″W
Type	reservoir
Basin countries	United States, Canada
Max. length	23 mi (37 km)
Max. width	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Max. depth	540 ft (160 m)
Surface elevation	1,604 ft (489 m)
Islands	Cat Island, Tenmile Island, Little Jerusalem Island, Cougar Island
Settlements	none

Ross Lake is a large reservoir in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state, USA, and southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The lake runs approximately north-south, is 23 miles (37 km) long, up to 1.5 miles (2.5 km) wide, and the full reservoir elevation is 1,604 feet above sea level (489 m).

The U.S. portion of Ross Lake is in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. North Cascades National Park is adjacent to the west and south, while the Pasayten Wilderness is east of the lake. In British Columbia the lake is a part of Skagit Valley Provincial Park, and Manning Provincial Park is nearby to the east.

Hydrology

Ross Lake is formed by the impoundment of the Skagit River by Ross Dam, which is operated by Seattle City Light for hydroelectric power generation serving Seattle, Washington, and surrounding areas. After leaving Ross Lake, the Skagit River flows through two more reservoirs before running to Puget Sound.

Looking north up Ross Lake, with Hozomeen Mountain in the left-background and Desolation Peak in the center-background

High peaks surround Ross Lake in all directions, and include Hozomeen Mountain, Ruby Mountain, Desolation Peak, and Jack Mountain, the summit of which is over 7,000 feet above the elevation of the lake. Rivers and creeks flowing into Ross Lake include the upper Skagit River, Hozomeen Creek, Silver Creek, Little Beaver Creek, Arctic Creek, Lightning Creek, Devils Creek, Big Beaver Creek, and Ruby Creek. Most of these creeks originate from glaciers and snowfields high in the North Cascades.

History

Ross Dam, forming Ross Lake

Ross Dam, originally called Ruby Dam, was built in three stages between 1937 and 1949, and currently stands 540 feet (165 m) tall. A fourth stage of construction was planned for the dam; however, in 1984 Seattle City Light made an electricity-purchasing agreement with British Columbia which delayed any further expansion of the Ross Lake Dam for 80 years. The lake and dam are named after James D. Ross, the superintendent of the Seattle City Light’s Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, which built the dam.

Recreation

Ross Lake is a major recreation destination within the North Cascades, attracting visitors with a multitude of fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking opportunities. The trout fishing, in particular, is well-renowned. Ross Dam, as well as Gorge and Diablo dams downstream, are barriers preventing salmon from travelling between Ross Lake and the Pacific Ocean; thus, Ross Lake has no anadromous fish.

Camping is allowed at a number of boat-in and hike-in campsites around the lake. Backcountry camping permits (free, first come first serve) are required, and may be obtained from the National Park Service in Marblemount.

The lake is also home to a floating resort, called the Ross Lake Resort. Made up a several dozen cabins and bunkhouses it is situated approximatley a quarter mile from the dam and rests entirely on log booms. During the winter, when lake levels shrink the resort detaches from its shore moorings and relocates to the center of the lake. This is due to lower water levels caused by winter freezes

See also

• Diablo Lake
• Skagit River Hydroelectric Project
• Ross Lake Fault

External links

• National Park Service website for Ross Lake National Recreation Area
• Chronology of Skagit River dams from the Skagit Valley Herald
• Upper Skagit Watershed Photograph Project from Seattle Municipal Archives