Canyon Ferry Lake is a reservoir on the Missouri River near Helena, Montana and Townsend, Montana. It is Montana's third largest body of water, covering 35,181 acres (142 km2) and 76 miles (122 km) of shore (1). It was formed by the building of Canyon Ferry Dam, which was completed in 1954 and has been used for electricity, irrigation, and flood controls since.
| Canyon Ferry Lake | |
|---|---|
 Canyon Ferry Lake | |
  Canyon Ferry Lake  Canyon Ferry Lake | |
| Location | Lewis and Clark and Broadwater Counties in  Montana, United States. Located near Helena, Montana. |
| Coordinates | 46°28′53″N 111°32′47″W / 46.481312°N 111.546404°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Missouri River |
| Primary outflows | Missouri River |
| Catchment area | 15,904 sq mi (41,190 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Max. width | 5 mi (8.0 km) |
| Surface area | 33,500 acres (13,600 ha) |
| Water volume | 2,051,000 acre⋅ft (2.530 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 76 mi (122 km) |
| Surface elevation | 3,797 ft (1,157 m) msl |
| Islands | Cemetery Island |
| Settlements | Canton and Townsend |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Recreation
The lake is a popular outdoor destination providing boating, fishing, wildlife habitat, and is nestled against the Big Belt Mountains of the Rocky Mountains. Canyon Ferry Lake has also become a leading ice boat venue for iceboat racing and iceboat world speed record attempts.[1][2] The former town of Canton lies beneath the lake, having been submerged following construction of the dam.
Canyon Ferry Lake, north end, viewed from Yacht Basin Marina.
Aerial View of Canyon Ferry Lake and Canyon Ferry Dam.
Canyon Ferry Lake in foreground as seen from U.S. Highway 12 near Townsend, Montana. Big Belt Mountains in background.
Location of Canyon Ferry Lake and other reservoirs and dams built in the Pick–Sloan Program since the 1940s.
Fishing
The lake is regularly stocked with fish. Canyon Ferry Reservoir continues to be one of the most popular angling destinations in the state of Montana.[3]
| Species | Family | Class | Native to MT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Sunfish | Warmwater | Introduced |
| Brook Trout | Trout | Coldwater | Introduced |
| Brown Trout | Trout | Coldwater | Introduced |
| Burbot | Codfish | Coldwater | Native |
| Common Carp | Minnow | Warmwater | Introduced |
| Fathead Minnow | Minnow | Warmwater | Native |
| Flathead Chub | Minnow | Warmwater | Native |
| Largemouth Bass | Sunfish | Warmwater | Introduced |
| Longnose Dace | Minnow | Warmwater | Native |
| Longnose Sucker | Sucker | Warmwater | Native |
| Mottled Sculpin | Sculpin | Native | |
| Mountain Whitefish | Trout | Coldwater | Native |
| Northern Pike | Pike | Warmwater | Introduced |
| Pumpkinseed | Sunfish | Warmwater | Introduced |
| Rainbow Trout | Trout | Coldwater | Introduced |
| Smallmouth Bass | Sunfish | Warmwater | Introduced |
| Stonecat | Catfish | Native | |
| Utah Chub | Minnow | Introduced | |
| Walleye | Perch | Warmwater | Introduced |
| White Sucker | Sucker | Warmwater | Native |
| Yellow Perch | Perch | Warmwater | Introduced |
| Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout | Trout | Coldwater | Native |
See also
References
External links
- Canyon Ferry Lake (Official website), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), Department of the Interior
- Current Reservoir Data, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Canyon Ferry Lake Information, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Canyon Ferry Recreation Map, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation