Deep Creek Lake
Boats docked at a Deep Creek Lake dock in May 2008.
Location of Deep Creek Lake in Maryland
Location of Deep Creek Lake in Maryland
Deep Creek Lake
Location of Deep Creek Lake in Maryland
Location of Deep Creek Lake in Maryland
Deep Creek Lake
LocationGarrett County, Maryland
Coordinates39°30′34″N 79°23′28″W / 39.5095354°N 79.3911531°W / 39.5095354; -79.3911531 (Deep Creek Lake)
Lake typeReservoir
Primary inflowsDeep Creek, Meadow Mountain Run, Cherry Creek, Green Glade Run
Primary outflowsDeep Creek
Catchment area64.7 sq mi (168 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length11.25 mi (18.11 km)
Max. width1.13 mi (1.82 km)
Surface area3,628 acres (14.68 km2)
Max. depth75 ft (23 m)
Shore length169 mi (111 km)
Surface elevation2,461 ft (750 m)
SettlementsMcHenry, Maryland
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Deep Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir[1] in the U.S. state of Maryland. It covers about 3,900 acres (16 km2) and has 69 miles (111 km) of shoreline.[2] The lake is home to a wide variety of aquatic life, such as freshwater fish and aquatic birds. The Wisp Ski Resort is located nearby.[3] It is a popular regional vacation and tourism destination.[4]

History

The lake is a result of the Youghiogheny Hydroelectric Company hydroelectric project on Deep Creek in the 1920s. Deep Creek Dam, located about 8 miles (13 km) north of Oakland, Maryland, consists of an earth and rock wall dam across a tributary of the Youghiogheny River. Construction of the dam began in 1923 and was completed in 1925. The hydroelectric plant became operational at 4 p.m. on May 26, 1925.[5] The state of Maryland purchased the lake in 2000 from the Pennsylvania Electric Company, and Deep Creek Lake State Park provides public access to the lake.[6]

Fishing

Deep Creek Lake

Fish commonly caught by anglers include:[7]

Climate

Deep Creek Lake has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

Climate data for Sines Deep Creek, Maryland, 1991–2020 normals, 1928-2020 extremes: 2040ft (622m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 73
(23) 		74
(23) 		82
(28) 		87
(31) 		88
(31) 		93
(34) 		96
(36) 		94
(34) 		95
(35) 		86
(30) 		78
(26) 		75
(24) 		96
(36)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 54.8
(12.7) 		58.4
(14.7) 		70.2
(21.2) 		77.6
(25.3) 		83.7
(28.7) 		85.1
(29.5) 		87.2
(30.7) 		83.1
(28.4) 		83.2
(28.4) 		75.7
(24.3) 		68.6
(20.3) 		58.9
(14.9) 		87.5
(30.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 34.0
(1.1) 		37.8
(3.2) 		46.9
(8.3) 		59.3
(15.2) 		67.9
(19.9) 		74.9
(23.8) 		79.0
(26.1) 		76.4
(24.7) 		71.5
(21.9) 		61.1
(16.2) 		48.5
(9.2) 		38.2
(3.4) 		58.0
(14.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.3
(−3.7) 		27.7
(−2.4) 		35.7
(2.1) 		46.5
(8.1) 		55.7
(13.2) 		63.3
(17.4) 		67.6
(19.8) 		65.7
(18.7) 		59.8
(15.4) 		49.8
(9.9) 		38.8
(3.8) 		29.6
(−1.3) 		47.1
(8.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 16.6
(−8.6) 		17.5
(−8.1) 		24.4
(−4.2) 		33.7
(0.9) 		43.5
(6.4) 		51.7
(10.9) 		56.2
(13.4) 		54.9
(12.7) 		48.0
(8.9) 		38.5
(3.6) 		29.0
(−1.7) 		21.0
(−6.1) 		36.2
(2.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −3.3
(−19.6) 		−1.1
(−18.4) 		7.7
(−13.5) 		20.0
(−6.7) 		28.9
(−1.7) 		39.3
(4.1) 		47.9
(8.8) 		45.0
(7.2) 		36.4
(2.4) 		27.2
(−2.7) 		15.5
(−9.2) 		8.0
(−13.3) 		−4.2
(−20.1)
Record low °F (°C) −20
(−29) 		−23
(−31) 		−11
(−24) 		11
(−12) 		20
(−7) 		24
(−4) 		35
(2) 		35
(2) 		22
(−6) 		14
(−10) 		−8
(−22) 		−17
(−27) 		−23
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.65
(118) 		4.39
(112) 		4.67
(119) 		4.35
(110) 		4.90
(124) 		5.67
(144) 		5.01
(127) 		4.41
(112) 		3.29
(84) 		3.19
(81) 		3.36
(85) 		4.64
(118) 		52.53
(1,334)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 31.7
(81) 		30.7
(78) 		16.0
(41) 		4.0
(10) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		2.6
(6.6) 		6.2
(16) 		19.1
(49) 		110.4
(281.85)
Source 1: NOAA(Mc Henry 4.8 SSE Precip/Snowfall)[8][9]
Source 2: XMACIS2 (2007-2020 snowfall, records & monthly max/mins)[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Maryland's Lakes and Reservoirs: FAQ". www.mgs.md.gov.
  2. ^ Meyer, Eugene L. (September 14, 2007). "High-End Rustic on a Plateau in the Alleghenies". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  3. ^ Phillips, John (March 7, 2024). Ski & Snowboard America Mid-Atlantic, 2nd. Globe Pequot Press. ISBN 978-0-7627-0845-1. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  4. ^ "Discover Deep Creek". Visit Maryland. Maryland. September 2020. Deep Creek is an outdoor adventurer's dream destination, no matter the season. In the summer, try fishing or boating on Deep Creek Lake. Come fall, experience the Autumn Glory Festival in Oakland. And in winter, there's no better place to hit the slopes than Wisp Resort in the four-season funzone of McHenry. An adventure-seeker's paradise with the culture and cuisine to rival any destination.
  5. ^ "Yough Dams". History of the Upper Yough. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  6. ^ "The History of Deep Creek". Power Plant Research Program. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on May 14, 2001. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  7. ^ "Maryland Fish Facts". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  8. ^ "Sines Deep Creek, Maryland 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  9. ^ "Mc Henry 4.8 SSE, Maryland 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deep Creek Lake.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Deep Creek Lake.


Protected areas of Maryland
Waters of Maryland
Nature centers in Maryland
Authority control databases
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