Moses Lake

View on Full Map View Surveys (2) View Sources (6)

Grebe Survey Summary

  • Max Adults: 344
  • Year: 1990
  • Most Recent Adults: 56
  • Year: 2011
  • Survey Type: N/A
  • Most Common Threats Reported: N/A
Lake name:
Moses Lake
Location:
Washington
HydroLAKE ID:
8556
GRanD ID:
327
Latitude:
47.085252
Longitude:
-119.330130
Surface area (km2):
23.3
Basin type:
reservoir
Dam completion date:
1961
Management agency:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW); Bureau of Reclamation
Lake use:
irrigation
Region associations:
Columbia Basin; Potholes Reservoir
Comments:
Moses Lake was a shallow lake until it was dammed for irrigation purposes. Prior to the creation of Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake was known to be a breeding lake for western grebes. In 2021, the BOR increased the amount of water sent into the lake which resulted in improved water quality.

Surveys (2)

Survey Citation:
Wahl, T. R. 2005. Western Grebe. Pages 81-82, Clark’s Grebe, p. 83, in T. R. Wahl, B. Tweit, and S. G. Mlodinow, eds. Birds of Washington: status and distribution. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon.

  • Time period
    August 1984, September 1984
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 80 1984
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 80 1984
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Says that nesting occurred since 1984 but doesn't say til when and no nest #s. The 20 to 80 birds counted were in Aug and Sept.

Survey Citation:
Yocom CF, Harris SW, Hansen HA (1958) Status of grebes of eastern Washington. Auk 75:36–47.

  • Time period
    N/A
  • Source
    Notes
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 presence ?
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 presence ?
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence ?
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 presence ?
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Prior to the creation of Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake was known to be a breeding lake for Western grebes. No years given for any surveys or numbers.

Sources of Information

  • Messager, M. L., B. Lehner, G. Grill, I. Nedeva, and O. Schmitt. 2016. Estimating the volume and age of water stored in global lakes using a geo-statistical approach. Nature Communications 7:13603. Data is available at www.hydrosheds.org.; Lehner, B., C. Reidy Liermann, C. Revenga, C. Vorosmarty, B. Fekete, P. Crouzet, P. Doll, M. Endejan, K. Frenken, J. Magome, C. Nilsson, J.C. Robertson, R. Rodel, N. Sindorf, and D. Wisser. 2011. Global Reservoir and Dam Database, Version 1 (GRanDv1): Dams, Revision 01. Palisades, New York: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).
  • Lehner, B., C. Reidy Liermann, C. Revenga, C. Vorosmarty, B. Fekete, P. Crouzet, P. Doll, M. Endejan, K. Frenken, J. Magome, C. Nilsson, J.C. Robertson, R. Rodel, N. Sindorf, and D. Wisser. 2011. Global Reservoir and Dam Database, Version 1 (GRanDv1): Dams, Revision 01. Palisades, New York: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).
  • Moses Lake Information
  • Moses Lake Water Quality 2021
  • Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
  • Moses Lake Water Data