Colchuck Lake

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Colchuck Lake
Colchuck Lake.jpg
Aasgard Pass (left) and Dragontail Peak center above Colchuck Lake
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Colchuck Lake
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Red pog.svg
Colchuck Lake
Location Chelan County, Washington, United States
Coordinates 47°29′52″N120°51′13″W / 47.4976478°N 120.8534945°W / 47.4976478; -120.8534945
Primary outflows Mountaineer creek
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface area87.8 acres (0.355 km2) [1] : 27 
Surface elevation5,574 ft (1,699 m) [2]

Colchuck Lake is a freshwater reservoir lake located on the western slope of the Enchantments, in Chelan County, Washington. [3] [1] The lake is located approximately 15 miles from the city of Leavenworth, Washington and sits on the southeast corner of the Icicle Creek subbasin. It is accessed by a 4-mile trail that starts at USFS Road 7601 as it crosses over Eightmile Creek and makes a turn towards the Stuart and Culchuck Lake Trailhead where the road ends. [4] The origin of the word comes from Chinook Jargon kol + cak to mean cold waters. [5] [6]

Contents

History

Icicle Irrigation District applied in 1926 for the right to divert water from Colchuck Lake at a rate of 50 cfs (cubic feet per second), 2,500 acre-feet per year for seasonal irrigation purposes. [1] : 9  The State Supervisor of Hydraulics issued Permit Number 828 in January 1927 for the requested amount. The irrigation district also sought permission to raise the lake levels because of inadequate summer flows for irrigation. The Department of Public Lands approved this request in a 1927 order that allowed the irrigation district to inundate lakeshores on the lake. [1] : 9 

Hydrology

Colchuck Lake has an area of approximately 87.8 acres (0.355 km2) and a maximum surface elevation of 5,570 feet above sea level, depending on the fluctuation of the depth of the lake. The lake has a tributary basin of 941 acres (3.81 km2) acres, and an average storage capacity estimated at 1,570 acre-feet. [1] : 27 

Dam

Colchuck Lake is contained by a masonry dam constructed in the late 1930s out of cement with a spillway opening at the center of the dam to control overflow. Operation of flow through the outlet is controlled by a valve located 20 feet (6.1 m) south of the spillway supported by a concrete pedestal that rises 2 feet above high water level. The depth to the gate from the top of the concrete pedestal is approximately 16 feet (4.9 m). [1] : 27-32  The gate allows for water discharge through the low-level outlet pipe to an unnamed creek, which flows into Mountaineer Creek, a tributary of Icicle Creek. [1] : 32 

Geography

Colchuck Lake sits in a basin consisting of rocky soils and igneous tonalite geology. The bedrock is about 3 feet from the surface and mapped as granites of the Mount Stuart Batholith (Mesozoic intrusive rocks) and ultramafic/metamorphic of the Ingalls Tectonic Complex (Mesozoic-Paleozoic ultramafic rocks). [7] [3] The trail to the lake consists of sandy loam the first half and boulders added in the second half of the trajectory.

Uses

Colchuck Lake is managed by the Icicle and Peshastin Irrigation Districts (IPID) to provide water storage for irrigation. [1] : 7  The lake captures water runoff at the far southeast of a 3,800-acre drainage basin which gives the lake a high potential for refill, even during dry years. The reservoir is contained by a small dam consisting of a rock and masonry structure with stop logs and an earthen embankment section that extends from the rock-masonry/concrete structure to the hillside north of the dam. The dam is fitted with a low-level outlet pipeline and a slide gate at the outlet of the lake. This infrastructure allows for controlled releases of stored water to supplement flows into Icicle Creek through its outflowing tributaries and increase the water supply available during low flow periods, which typically occur during the late summer. [8]

2017 fire

On August 11, 2017 lightning caused by a cold frontal passage that tracked through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness started a fire about 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, Washington. [9] The fire expanded into the Eightmile Lake, Stuart Lake and Colchuck drainages burning to the shoreline and damaging a large percentage of the lake's watershed. [10]

Access

Lake Stuart-Colchuck Lake intersection. Lake Stuart-Colchuck Lake intersection - Flickr - brewbooks.jpg
Lake Stuart-Colchuck Lake intersection.

The foot trail starts at the trailhead at the end of USFS Road 7601 becoming Stuart Lake Trail #1599. The trail eventually crosses over Mountaineer Creek about 1.5 miles from the trailhead by way of a wooden bridge. [11] The trail will fork in two less than a mile from the bridge, to the right is the trail to Stuart Lake and to the left is Colchuck Lake Trail #1599.1 towards Colchuck Lake. The trail has a second bridge over Mountaineer Creek shortly after the split fork.

Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit is required for transit within the Colchuck Lake area. [12]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colchuck Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Colchuck Peak is an 8,705-foot (2,653-metre) mountain summit located in the Stuart Range, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Chelan County of Washington state. The nearest higher peak is Dragontail Peak, 0.49 mi (0.79 km) to the east, and Argonaut Peak lies 0.9 mi (1.4 km) to the southwest. The Colchuck Glacier which lies on the northeast slopes of the peak melts into Colchuck Lake. The mountain and glacier take their name from the lake, which in Chinook jargon means "cold water". Precipitation runoff from the peak drains north into Mountaineer Creek, a tributary of Icicle Creek, or south into Ingalls Creek, all of which winds up in the Wenatchee River. Colchuck Peak is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation as topographic relief is significant with the summit rising 3,130 feet (954 m) above Colchuck Lake in 1 mi (1.6 km), and 4,600 feet (1,402 m) above Ingalls Creek in 1.9 mi (3.1 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colchuck Balanced Rock</span> Mountain summit in Washington, US

Colchuck Balanced Rock is an 8,200+ ft granite mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. Colchuck Balanced Rock is part of The Enchantments within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. It belongs to the Stuart Range which is subset of the Cascade Range. Colchuck Balanced Rock is situated west of Enchantment Peak, and east of Jabberwocky Tower and Colchuck Lake. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into the lake and Mountaineer Creek, a tributary of Icicle Creek. The climbing approach is via the Colchuck Lake Trail, then traversing away from Aasgard Pass approximately 400 feet above the lake. The mountain is named for its pyramidal summit which has a top-block that nests, rather than balances, on the summit. The mountain and glacier take their name from the lake, which in Chinook jargon means "cold water".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eightmile Lake</span>

Eightmile Lake is a reservoir lake located on the eastern slope of Eightmile Mountain, in Chelan County in Washington. It is a reservoir lake formed along the beginning route of Eightmile Creek as it exits Jack Ridge.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snow Lakes</span> System of freshwater lakes in Chelan County, Washington

Snow Lakes are a system of freshwater reservoir lakes made by Upper Snow Lake and Lower Snow Lake, approximately a mile long. They are located on the eastern slope of The Enchantments, in Chelan County, Washington. The Snow Lakes are one of the most heavily used destination in the Forest Service wildernesses in Oregon and Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lakes Wilderness permits are required for transit within the Snow Lakes area.

Nada Lake is a freshwater reservoir lakes located on the eastern slope of The Enchantments, in Chelan County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lakes Wilderness permits are required for transit within the Snow Lakes area.

Lake Alice is a freshwater lakes located on the north slope of the Grindstone Mountain, in Chelan County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Lake Alice area.

Lake Sylvester is a freshwater lake located on the north slope of the Grindstone Mountain, in Chelan County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Lake Sylvester is located approximately 15 miles west of the city of Leavenworth and access is obtained by Chatter Creek Trail #1580. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Grindstone Mountain area.

Lower Florence Lake is a freshwater lake located on the west skirt of Ladies Peak and Cape Horn, and North of Grindstone Mountain, in Chelan County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. Lower Florence Lake is located further down the slope from Upper Florence Lake, approximately 15 miles west of the city of Leavenworth. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit is required for transit within the Lake Alice area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Florence Lake</span>

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Lake Augusta is a freshwater lake located on the southwest skirt of Big Jim Mountain, East of Icicle Ridge, in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. Smaller Lake Ida is a short distance on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge and Big Jim Mountain Lakes or on the northeast slope of the mountain. Lake Augusta is located approximately 15 miles west of the city of Leavenworth. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Lake Augusta area.

Lake Ida is a freshwater lake located along Icicle Ridge, approximately 10 miles west of the city of Leavenworth in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. Lake Augusta is a short distance on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge. Lake Ida sits on a highly glaciated alpine cirque, surrounded by a coniferous forest primarily larch pines and outflows into Ida Creek, a tributary of Icicle Creek. At least one unrated waterfall is found downstream as Ida Creek runs the south slope of Icicle Ridge. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Lake Ida and Augusta area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Edna</span> Lake in Washington state, US

Lake Edna is a freshwater lake located along Icicle Ridge, approximately 10 miles west of the city of Leavenworth in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Lake Alice is a short distance in a prominent cirque on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge.

Josephine Lake is a natural lake and reservoir near Stevens Pass in Chelan County, Washington, United States. At the south skirt of Big Chief Mountain, Josephine Lake is the source of the Icicle Creek. Because Josephine Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Alpine Lake Optimization and Automation" (PDF). : Chelan County Natural Resources Department. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. ↑
  3. 1 2 "Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement" (PDF). Chelan County and Ecology’s Office of Columbia River. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Kriloff, Paul. "Colchuck Lake". Washington Trails Association. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Birght, William (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 115. ISBN   0806135980.
  6. ↑ Barnes, Jeremy and Nathan (2019). Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. Mountaineers Books. ISBN   1680510789.
  7. ↑ Schuster, J Eric. "File Geodatabase Feature Class". Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Earth Resources. Retrieved 10 March 2021. Enumerated domain value: MZPZu; Enumerated domain value definition: Mesozoic-Paleozoic ultramafic rocks. Enumerated domain value definition source: Geologic map of Washington (Schuster, 2005). Enumerated domain value: MZv; Enumerated domain value definition: Mesozoic volcanic rocks. Enumerated domain value definition source: Geologic map of Washington (Schuster, 2005)[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ Icicle and Peshastin Irrigation Districts (April 2018). "Eightmile Lake Storage Restoration Feasibility Study" (PDF). Chelan County Natural Resources Department. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Post-Fire BAER Assessment Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Information Brief". Central Washington Fire Recovery. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "Sept 26 Fire Update and trail closure reduction - InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Colchuck Lake". Leavenworth.org. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Colchuck Lake Trail #1599A". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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