Maps of Oregon show two large lakes in the northern part of Harney county. Malheur Lake and Harney Lake are connected by The Narrows. These lakes have achieved considerable prominence because of the controversies that have developed over them between the proponents of bird refuges and champions of the development of reclaimed lands for agricultural enterprises. The lakes are far more imposing on the map than they are on the ground. They are shallow bodies of water, and after a succession of dry years they actually occupy a much smaller area than indicated on the maps. At the time of this writing they are substantially smaller than they were at the time the first land surveys were made. Malheur Lake, which receives the flow of several large streams, remains comparatively fresh, but owing to the fact that the lake outlets into Harney Lake the latter acts as a catch basin for mineral deposits and as a result is gradually growing more alkaline in character.[1]
As official map making progresses many new lakes are brought to public attention. This is particularly true of the Cascade Range area. As a result of the activities of the U. S. Forest Service a large number of small unnamed lakes and ponds between Crater Lake and Mt. Jefferson have been placed on the map. There are probably more than fifty of these bodies of water that are not yet named, and a considerable number of them are within easy reach of Bend. There is no doubt but that they will in the future constitute an attractive field for recreation. A large number have been stocked with game fish.
The lakes of the coast region are not generally of economic importance. Most of them occur near the sea level and are so situated that they are not suitable for power or for irrigation development. Some of them offer good recreational facilities, but so far the people of Oregon have not realized what an asset they have in the coast lakes, and also in the Cascade Range lakes. The city of
- ↑ Both of these lakes were reported dry in 1924.
