Dexter Lake

Overview

22 miles southeast of Eugene, Dexter Lake is a popular recreation area offering year-round fishing, seasonal water skiing, sailing, swimming, picnicking and hunting. The area is also managed for wildlife habitat such as waterfowl, blacktail deer, upland game birds, wintering elk, bald eagles, osprey and many other species. Dexter Dam was completed in 1954 and provides flood control and has one generator, which produces 15,000 kilowatts. These dams and reservoirs work together for the purposes of flood damage reduction, hydropower generation, irrigation, recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, and downstream water quality improvement within the Willamette River drainage system. To mitigate impacts to salmon and steelhead caused by dams on the Middle Fork of the Willamette River, the Corps of Engineers built Willamette Fish Hatchery near Oakridge and the holding ponds below Dexter Dam. These facilities are operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, with funds provided by the Corps and the state of Oregon.

Four public use areas are maintained around the lake. The ACOE maintained Middle Fork boat launch offers visitors access to Dexter Lake, and the South Side Fishing Area allows visitors to conveniently fish from shore. In addition, the Corps-operated Orchard Park is located on the northeast end of the lake and includes a vault toilet and picnic tables. Lowell Park and Dexter Park are the primary state-operated recreation areas around the lake.

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