View source for Sturgeon Lake

[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
[[Category:Portland Area]]
[[Category:Sauvie Island]]
[[Category:Lakes]]
[[Category:Wildlife Viewing]]
[[Category:Destinations]]

[[Image:Great blue heron, Sturgeon Lake, Sauvie Island.jpg|thumb|400px|Great blue heron on the shore of Sturgeon Lake ''(bobcat)'']]

* Hikes to this destination: 
** {{hike ring|trailhead=Oak Island Trailhead|hike=Oak Island Loop Hike|log=Oak Island Loop Hike/Log|previous=Oak Island Trailhead|next=Sturgeon Lake Narrows}}
** {{hike ring|trailhead=Round Lake Trailhead (Sauvie Island)|hike=Mud Lake Loop Hike|log=Mud Lake Loop Hike/Log|previous=Sturgeon Lake Narrows|next=Big Eddy Trailhead}}

{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.7358|longitude=-122.8217}}
* Elevation: 10 feet

=== Description ===
Sturgeon Lake, at 3,166 acres, is the largest of the many floodplain lakes on Sauvie Island whose water levels rise and fall with the Willamette and Columbia rivers. The lake is of a convoluted shape and is very shallow. To the west of Oak Island are the West Arm and Wagonwheel Hole, which form a larger expanse with Steelman Lake. [[Sturgeon Lake Narrows|The Narrows]] connects the West Arm with the much larger main expanse of the lake, which is almost divided in two by the vegetated banks of the Gilbert River, the lake's outflow. 

Sedimentation is a huge problem with Sturgeon Lake. There are extensive dikes in the area, and thus the normal annual flushing by the Columbia River rarely takes place. Willows now crowd the shoreline. Sturgeon Lake was erroneously named by early settlers in the belief that it was a spawning ground for sturgeon. (Stories tell of these massive sturgeon leaving the lake at night to raid the local apple orchards!) In fact, your best bet for fishing in the lake are crappies or catfish.

=== More Links ===
* [https://oregonlakesatlas.org/map?lake=17090012000320  Sturgeon Lake (Atlas of Oregon Lakes)]


=== Contributors ===
* [[User:bobcat|bobcat]] (creator)