Rush Lake (also known as Rush Reservoir) is a shallow saline lake in Tooele County in the U.S.state of Utah. It is a remnant of Lake Bonneville, an ancient postglacialinland sea that covered much of the western United States during the Ice Ages. The lake is a natural impoundment of a stream that drains into the Great Salt Lake.[1] Rush Lake varies in size, evaporating at about 2 feet (0.61 m) per year, although occasional floods refill the lake.[1] The average surface elevation is 4,951 feet (1,509 m).[2]
The lake is located in a broad valley named Rush Valley near the town of Stockton and several miles south of Tooele, and is fed by snowmelt from six mountain ranges. These are the Sheeprock Mountains in the south, the East Tintic Mountains to the southeast, the Oquirrh Mountains to the east, South Mountain to the north, the Stansbury Mountains to the northwest and west, and the Onaqui Mountains to the southwest. The runoff from these mountain regions create only intermittent surface flow to the lake, but does reach it via groundwater seepage. The highest point in the watershed is Lowe Peak, at 10,590 feet (3,230 m). The outflow mostly consists of evaporation, and a very small amount seeps through the sandspit that impounds it from the main Great Salt Lake valley.[1]
The lake was isolated from Lake Bonneville approximately 15,000-17,000 years ago after evaporation lowered the lake level to below the natural Stockton Bar barrier between Rush Valley and Tooele Valley. During the ice ages, Rush Valley was merely one of many arms of Lake Bonneville. After Bonneville dried up, Rush Valley contained several pluvial lakes – Shambip, Smelter, and Rush – of which only Rush Lake remains today.[3]
Climate and ecology
Two major vegetation communities inhabit the Rush Lake watershed. These are sagebrush-grass and pinyon-juniper. The former is found in lower elevations and the valley floor, and the latter is found at higher elevations on the mountains along with other forms of alpine vegetation. The average annual precipitation is 10 to 40 inches (250 to 1,020 mm), and the annual frost-free season surrounding the lake ranges from 100 to 140 days. Cattle and sheep rangelands take up most of the catchment area.[1]
^ abcdef(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-07-29. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
^"Rush Lake at FishingWorks". Retrieved 2009-02-20.
^Wilson, James R., ed. (1992). Field Guide to Geologic Excursions in Utah. ISBN9781557913197. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
External links
Cabrero, Alex (2005-06-24). "Kiteboarder dies on Rush Lake". KSL.com.
The Rush Lake Legend
Kiteboarding on Rush Lake in 2011
January 23, 2023
rush, lake, tooele, county, utah, rush, lake, also, known, rush, reservoir, shallow, saline, lake, tooele, county, state, utah, remnant, lake, bonneville, ancient, postglacial, inland, that, covered, much, western, united, states, during, ages, lake, natural, . Rush Lake also known as Rush Reservoir is a shallow saline lake in Tooele County in the U S state of Utah It is a remnant of Lake Bonneville an ancient postglacial inland sea that covered much of the western United States during the Ice Ages The lake is a natural impoundment of a stream that drains into the Great Salt Lake 1 Rush Lake varies in size evaporating at about 2 feet 0 61 m per year although occasional floods refill the lake 1 The average surface elevation is 4 951 feet 1 509 m 2 Rush LakeRush ReservoirRush LakeShow map of UtahRush LakeShow map of the United StatesLocationTooele County UtahCoordinates40 26 28 N 112 23 04 W 40 44111 N 112 38444 W 40 44111 112 38444 Coordinates 40 26 28 N 112 23 04 W 40 44111 N 112 38444 W 40 44111 112 38444 1 TypeEndorheicPrimary outflowsNoneBasin countriesUnited States Rush Tooele Valleys Watershed Surface area5 sq mi 13 km2 Max depth20 feet 6 1 m Surface elevation4 951 ft 1 509 m FrozenneverIslandsDepends on lake levelSettlementsStockton Tooele Rush Valley Contents 1 Geography 2 Climate and ecology 3 References 4 External linksGeography EditThe lake is located in a broad valley named Rush Valley near the town of Stockton and several miles south of Tooele and is fed by snowmelt from six mountain ranges These are the Sheeprock Mountains in the south the East Tintic Mountains to the southeast the Oquirrh Mountains to the east South Mountain to the north the Stansbury Mountains to the northwest and west and the Onaqui Mountains to the southwest The runoff from these mountain regions create only intermittent surface flow to the lake but does reach it via groundwater seepage The highest point in the watershed is Lowe Peak at 10 590 feet 3 230 m The outflow mostly consists of evaporation and a very small amount seeps through the sandspit that impounds it from the main Great Salt Lake valley 1 The lake was isolated from Lake Bonneville approximately 15 000 17 000 years ago after evaporation lowered the lake level to below the natural Stockton Bar barrier between Rush Valley and Tooele Valley During the ice ages Rush Valley was merely one of many arms of Lake Bonneville After Bonneville dried up Rush Valley contained several pluvial lakes Shambip Smelter and Rush of which only Rush Lake remains today 3 Climate and ecology EditTwo major vegetation communities inhabit the Rush Lake watershed These are sagebrush grass and pinyon juniper The former is found in lower elevations and the valley floor and the latter is found at higher elevations on the mountains along with other forms of alpine vegetation The average annual precipitation is 10 to 40 inches 250 to 1 020 mm and the annual frost free season surrounding the lake ranges from 100 to 140 days Cattle and sheep rangelands take up most of the catchment area 1 The lake is inhabited by several different species of fish These include in order of abundance Utah chub carp green sunfish bluegill largemouth bass channel catfish yellow perch black crappie and black bullhead The lake has not been stocked with fish since 1988 when 71 000 largemouth bass fry were released in the lake 1 References Edit a b c d e f Utah Water Quality Rush Lake PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2003 07 29 Retrieved 2009 02 20 Rush Lake at FishingWorks Retrieved 2009 02 20 Wilson James R ed 1992 Field Guide to Geologic Excursions in Utah ISBN 9781557913197 Retrieved 2009 02 20 External links EditCabrero Alex 2005 06 24 Kiteboarder dies on Rush Lake KSL com The Rush Lake Legend Kiteboarding on Rush Lake in 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rush Lake Tooele County Utah amp oldid 1124422964, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
