Cooper Creek Reservoir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cooper Creek Reservoir
Cooper Creek Reservoir Location in Oregon Show map of Oregon Cooper Creek Reservoir Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Douglas County, Oregon
Coordinates	43°22′48″N 123°16′54″W / 43.38000°N 123.28167°W / 43.38000; -123.28167
Type	Reservoir, eutrophic
Primary inflows	Cooper Creek
Primary outflows	Cooper Creek
Catchment area	4.5 square miles (12 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	166 acres (67 ha)
Average depth	23 feet (7.0 m)
Max. depth	70 feet (21 m)
Water volume	3,800 acre-feet (4,700,000 m3)
Residence time	9 months
Shore length1	5.1 miles (8.2 km)
Surface elevation	673 feet (205 m)
Settlements	Sutherlin
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Cooper Creek Reservoir is a body of water behind an earthen dam across Cooper Creek in the Umpqua River basin of the U.S. state of Oregon. The reservoir is in Douglas County, about 2 miles (3 km) east of Sutherlin and about 11 miles (18 km) north of Roseburg. The impoundment provides part of Sutherlin's drinking water.

The reservoir supports populations of largemouth bass, panfish, and stocked rainbow trout. The panfish and bass grow to large sizes, but mercury pollution from old mine tailings upstream makes eating them risky. In 2001, the Oregon Department of Human Services issued a mercury-related health advisory for fish caught in the reservoir. However, municipal water from the reservoir was deemed safe to drink, and the mercury posed no threat to recreational activities in the lake. Mercury levels in the fish were not expected to diminish in the foreseeable future.

Recreation

Cooper Creek Reservoir Park, managed by Douglas County, has two boat launches, a swimming area, and a dock. It offers opportunities for fishing, waterskiing, and jet skiing. Amenities include a pavilion, a picnic area, and toilets. The park is for day use only, and no camping is allowed. A hiking trail circles the reservoir.