| John C. Boyle Reservoir | |
| Location: | Klamath County, Oregon |
| Coords: | 42.14°N -122.0336°W |
| Type: | Reservoir, eutrophic |
| Inflow: | Klamath River |
| Outflow: | Klamath River |
| Catchment: | 4080mi2 |
| Basin Countries: | United States |
| Area: | 381acres |
| Depth: | 11feet |
| Max-Depth: | 45feet |
| Volume: | 4200acre feet |
| Residence Time: | < 1 week |
| Shore: | 7.6miles |
| Elevation: | 3796feet |
| Cities: | Keno, Klamath Falls |
| Pushpin Map: | Oregon#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of John C. Boyle Reservoir in Oregon, USA. |
| Reference: | [1] [2] [3] |
John C. Boyle Reservoir is an artificial impoundment behind John C. Boyle Dam on the Klamath River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The lake is 16miles west-southwest of Klamath Falls along Oregon Route 66.[1]
The dam is at about river mile (RM) 225 or river kilometer (RK) 362, about 10miles by river downstream of the community of Keno.[4] Spencer Bridge carries the highway over the lake at about its midpoint.[4]
Water from the reservoir is diverted through a sluice to the Boyle Powerhouse, about 5miles downstream of the dam.[5] Fluctuations of up to 3feet daily in the reservoir level occur as water is added for storage or diverted for power generation.[6]
The California - Oregon Power Company (COPCO), which later merged with Pacific Power, a future subsidiary of PacifiCorp, built the dam in the mid-1950s as part of the multi-dam Klamath River Hydroelectric Project.[7] Meant primarily to generate hydroelectricity, the reservoir can hold up to 4200acre feet of water.[1] Originally called Big Bend Reservoir, it was renamed in 1962 for John C. Boyle, COPCO's vice president, general manager, and chief engineer.[7]
The Boyle dam is one of four Klamath River dams that may be removed as early as 2020 if the United States Congress eventually agrees.[8] The other three, all owned by PacifiCorp and all in California, are Iron Gate, Copco 2, and Copco 1.[9] A tentative agreement reached in 2009 by major stakeholders, including PacifiCorp, would remove the dams to restore salmon runs blocked below Iron Gate for about a century.[9] As of February 25, 2022, the FERC released their final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the dam's removal.[10] The dam is expected to be removed sometime in 2023 or 2024.[11]
It is named after John C. Boyle (1899-1979), who was vice president, general manager, and long-time chief engineer of the California Oregon Power Company (COPCO), a privately held utility that served southern Oregon and portions of northern California.[12]
The reservoir supports largemouth bass ranging from 12inchesto16inchesin (toin), which can be fished for by boat or from the bank.[6] Other fish found in the lake include black crappie, white crappie, yellow perch, brown bullhead, and pumpkinseed sunfish.[6]
Topsy Recreation Site, maintained by the Bureau of Land Management, has a campground, a boat launch, a dock, and a fishing pier at J. C. Boyle Reservoir. Swimming, picnicking, and bird-watching are among recreational activities in addition to camping and fishing.[13] [14]