{{short description|Reservoir in Oregon, USA}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Gerber Reservoir | image = Gerber Reservoir Sunset (Klamath County, Oregon scenic images) (klaDA0104).jpg | caption = Gerber Reservoir at sunset | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Klamath County, Oregon | coords = {{coord|42.1990448|-121.1020378|display=inline,title}}<ref name="GNIS">{{cite GNIS|1121105|Gerber Reservoir|Jan 16, 2021}}</ref> | type = Reservoir | inflow = Miller Creek and its tributaries | outflow = Miller Creek | catchment = {{convert|234|sqmi|km2}} | basin_countries = | date-flooded = {{Start date|1925|06}} | length = {{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|2.3|mi|km|abbr=on}} | area = {{convert|3815|acre|ha|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|27|ft|m|abbr=on}} | max-depth ={{convert|65|ft|m|abbr=on}} | volume = | residence_time = | shore = {{convert|28.9|mi|km|abbr=on}} | elevation = {{convert|4835|ft|m|abbr=on}} | frozen = | islands = | cities = <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = Oregon#USA | pushpin_label_position = top | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Gerber Reservoir in Oregon, USA. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = | reference = }}
'''Gerber Reservoir''' is an irrigation impoundment created by Gerber Dam. It is located in southern Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The reservoir covers {{convert|3815|acre|ha}}. The dam and reservoir are named in honor of Louis C. Gerber, an early pioneer who owned much of the land flooded by the reservoir. Today, the reservoir and surrounding property is owned by the United States Government. It is administered by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management. Gerber Reservoir is a popular outdoor recreation site with two campgrounds along its west shore.
== History == Native Americans occupied sites around what is now Gerber Reservoir for perhaps 6,400 years before the first European settlers arrived in the area. Ancient campsites have been found in the area of Gerber Reservoir. Family bands of Klamath and Modoc peoples used these sites from early spring through fall for hunting, fishing, and plant gathering activities.<ref name="BLM">[http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Gerber%20Rec%20Area.pdf ''Gerber Recreation Area''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904161726/http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Gerber%20Rec%20Area.pdf |date=2012-09-04 }} (PDF), Lakeview District, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Lakeview, Oregon, 23 August 2005.</ref><ref>Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "The Gerber Reservoir Vicinity"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, pp. 49–50.</ref>
Louis C. Gerber (1854–1930)<ref name="BB"/> and his family were among the first whites to settle in the area. In the mid-1880s, Gerber used the Swamp Act to acquire {{convert|840|acre|ha}} along Miller Creek on the high plateau northeast of the Langell Valley. In 1895, he filed a homestead claim on an adjacent {{convert|168|acre|ha|adj=on}} parcel. By 1915, Gerber had also purchased 20 abandoned homesteads in the same area. He consolidated all these properties into the Gerber Ranch. In 1923, Gerber sold {{convert|1008|acre|ha}} to the United States Government. This area was flooded when the Bureau of Reclamation completed the Miller Creek impoundment dam in June 1925. Both the dam and the reservoir it created were named in his honor.<ref>McArthur, Lewis A. and Lewis L. McArthur, "Gerber Reservoir", ''Oregon Geographic Names'' (Seventh Edition), Oregon Historical Society Press, Portland, Oregon, 2003, p. 398.</ref><ref name="BB">Brown, Brooke, [http://www.blm.gov/or/landsrealty/homestead150/files/Gerber_paper.pdf "Gerber Family"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819125558/http://www.blm.gov/or/landsrealty/homestead150/files/Gerber_paper.pdf |date=2014-08-19 }} (PDF), ''The Gerber Family Legacy on Public Lands'', Klamath Falls Resource Area, Lakeview District, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Klamath Falls, Oregon, ca. 2011, pp. 1-–3.</ref><ref name="DMJ">Johnson, Daniel M., "Gerber Reservoir (Klamath)", ''Atlas of Oregon Lakes'', Oregon State University Press: Corvallis, Oregon, 1985; [http://aol.research.pdx.edu/lakes/18010204002255 on-line version] maintained by the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs, Portland State University.</ref>
During World War II, the island in the middle of Gerber Reservoir was used as a United States military bombing range.<ref name="BB"/><ref name="RGO">Ostertag, Rhonda and George Ostertag, ''Camping Oregon'' (third edition), Morris Book Publishing, 2013, Kearney, Nebraska, pp. 240–241.</ref> Today, ospreys and pelicans nest on the island.<ref name="RGO"/>
== Watershed == Gerber Reservoir is located on the east side of the Cascade Range in southern Oregon. The reservoir's water comes from Miller Creek and its tributaries. In addition to Miller Creek, Barnes Creek, Barnes Valley Creek, and Ben Hall Creek are year-around tributaries of the reservoir. There are also a number of ephemeral tributaries that dry up in summer. The reservoir's outlet is Miller Creek, as it flows over Gerber Dam. From there, the water flows southwest through Miller Creek Canyon to the Langell Valley, where it runs into the Lost River.<ref name="DMJ"/><ref>Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "Physiography, Hydrology, and Geology"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, pp. 3–6.</ref><ref name="ATM">[http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=42.196,-121.100&z=13&t=T&marker0=42.196,-121.100 Gerber Reservoir topographic map], United States Geological Survey, United States Department of Interior, Reston, Virginia; displayed via ACME mapper, ''www.acme.com'', 11 August 2012.</ref>
The watershed that drains into Gerber Reservoir covers {{convert|234|sqmi|km2}}.<ref name="DMJ"/> There are three primary vegetation zones that make up the watershed: coniferous forest, juniper woodlands, and shrub-steppe. There are also some meadow lands within the pine forest zone and in riparian areas along drainages that empty into the reservoir from the north and south. The watershed to the north, south, and west of the reservoir are pine forest. The area east of the reservoir is mostly juniper woodlands. The areas immediately surrounding the reservoir are shrub-steppe.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS1">Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "Flora"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, pp. 6–7.</ref>
left|thumb|250px|Forest and meadow near Gerber Reservoir The vegetation in the coniferous forest is dominated by ponderosa pine. Other tree species found in the watershed are lodgepole pine, sugar pine, white fir, and incense cedar. The forest understory include mountain mahogany, big sagebrush, low sagebrush, rabbitbrush, bitterbrush, and manzanita. Other common forest plants include ceanothus, huckleberry, snowberry, blue elderberry, chokecherry, twinberry, and serviceberry. Flowering plants include lupine, vetch, asters, biscuitroot, balsamroot, wild strawberry, yarrow, and dandelion. Grasses found in the forested areas include Idaho fescue, intermediate wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and Thurber needlegrass. Invasive species include Kentucky bluegrass and cheatgrass brome. There are also quaking aspen in the upland meadows areas dispersed within the pine forest portion of the watershed.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS1"/>
Juniper woodlands are drier forest areas with shallow, sandy soil. Western juniper is the dominant species. The understory is similar to the pine forest with big sagebrush and bitterbrush widely distributed. Mountain mahogany, low sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and gray horsebrush are common in some areas. Grasses include Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, granite prickly-phlox, western needlegrass, and Sandberg bluegrass.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS1"/>
The shrub-steppe areas around Gerber Reservoir are generally dominated by big sagebrush with low sagebrush common in rocky areas. Other vegetation includes rabbitbrush, spiny hopsage, wax currant, balsamroot, desert parsley, willow dock, blazing star, sunflower, plains mustard, tarweed, manna grass, buckwheat, and ryegrass.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS1"/>
== Environment == Gerber Reservoir is an irrigation impoundment created by Gerber Dam. The reservoir covers {{convert|3815|acre|ha}}. It is approximately {{convert|5|mi|km}} long and {{convert|2.3|mi|km}} wide. The reservoir has a branching shape with shallow arms that follow various watershed drainages. There is one permanent island in the middle of the reservoir. The reservoir has an average depth of {{convert|27|ft|m}} with a maximum depth of {{convert|65|ft|m}}. Its elevation is {{convert|4835|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name="DMJ"/>
While very few aquatic plants live in the shallow branches, the reservoir is still very productive. Its trophic state is classified as eutrophic. A combination of suspended inorganic matter and phytoplankton growth limit the water's transparency. In the main part of the reservoir, the water is deep enough for thermal stratification. In the deeper thermal layers, there is less oxygen than is found near the surface.<ref name="DMJ"/>
The reservoir is in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. As a result, the weather in the Gerber area is typical of high plateaus in the northern Basin and Range Province. It is characterized by ample sunshine, low precipitation, and wide temperature ranges. Low humidity causes rapid evaporation. As a rule, winters in the Gerber area are long and summers mild.<ref name="JS3">Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "Climate"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, pp. 5–6.</ref>
{{Weather box |location = Gerber Dam, Oregon |single line = Y |Jan high F = 42.4 |Feb high F = 45.3 |Mar high F = 50.6 |Apr high F = 55.1 |May high F = 65.0 |Jun high F = 73.6 |Jul high F = 84.9 |Aug high F = 84.2 |Sep high F = 76.4 |Oct high F = 63.4 |Nov high F = 48.1 |Dec high F = 40.4 |year high F= 60.8 |Jan mean F = 31.3 |Feb mean F = 33.8 |Mar mean F = 38.7 |Apr mean F = 42.9 |May mean F = 51.1 |Jun mean F = 57.4 |Jul mean F = 66.8 |Aug mean F = 65.8 |Sep mean F = 57.3 |Oct mean F = 47.1 |Nov mean F = 36.7 |Dec mean F = 30.4 |year mean F= 46.6 |Jan low F = 20.1 |Feb low F = 22.2 |Mar low F = 26.7 |Apr low F = 30.7 |May low F = 37.2 |Jun low F = 41.1 |Jul low F = 48.7 |Aug low F = 47.3 |Sep low F = 38.2 |Oct low F = 30.8 |Nov low F = 25.3 |Dec low F = 20.3 |year low F= 32.4 |source 1 = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center normals data, 1981–2010<ref name="NCD">[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datasets/NORMAL_MLY/stations/GHCND:USC00353232/detail "Normals Monthly Station Details"], Gerber Dam Reporting Station (GHCND:USC00353232), National Climatic Data Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, Asheville, North Carolina, 10 August 2014.</ref> |date = 2010 }}
The annual average high temperature at Gerber Reservoir is {{convert|46.6|°F|°C|0}}. The warmest month is normally July, which has an average high of {{convert|84.9|°F|°C|0}}. The annual average low temperature is {{convert|32.4|°F|°C|0}}. January is normally the coldest month, with an average low of {{convert|20.1|°F|°C|0}}.<ref name="NCD"/> Gerber gets an average of {{convert|14|in|mm}} of precipitation per year, much of it coming as snow. Precipitation occurs mainly in the winter with smaller amounts in the fall and spring. Summers are generally dry except during localized thunderstorms. The prevailing winds are from the west and south.<ref name="JS3"/>
== Ecology == {{Annotated image 4 <!-- this template is used to just show the lake part of the original image--> | image = Klamath Project Mapic.jpg | alt = Owyhee Reservoir | image-width = 2100 | width = 210 | height = 220 | image-left = -1323 | image-top = -192 | align = right | annotations = {{Annotation|92|188|'''''← MILLER CREEK'''''|color=#cc2d1a}} | annot-font-size = 12 | caption = Gerber Reservoir, part of the Klamath Project. | icon = none }} The meadows near the reservoir have camas and tufted hairgrass. Wetlands along the reservoir shoreline have sedge, cattails, bulrushes, arumleaf arrowroot, pond lily, sago pondweed, widgeon grass, sego lily, burr weed, and tule. There are also willows in riparian areas along drainages that empty into the reservoir.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS1"/>
The reservoir's game fish includes white crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. The crappie and perch are particularly sought after by anglers. Crappies over {{convert|12|in|cm}} long are common. The largest crappie ever caught at the reservoir weighed well over {{convert|4|lbs|kg}}, an Oregon state record. Perch up to {{convert|14|in|cm}} long are also common at Gerber. Other fish found in the reservoir include tui chub, blue chub, speckled dace, and shortnose sucker.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="DMJ"/><ref>[http://www.completefish.com/oregon/gerber-reservoir "Lake Information for Gerber Reservoir"], ''Fishing'', ''www.completefish.com'', Austin, Texas, 10 August 2014.</ref><ref>Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "Table B-3, Amphibians, Lizards, Skinks, Snakes, Eels, and fish of the Gerber Reservoir Area"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, p. B-9.</ref>
In addition to fish, the reservoir provide habitat for a wide variety of bird species. Birdwatchers can see waterfowl, songbirds, and birds of prey in the Gerber area. Common waterfowl include western grebe, red-necked grebe, common loon, hooded merganser, common merganser, trumpeter swan, Canada goose, snow goose, black tern, American coot, and a number of duck species. Other water-dependent birds found at the reservoir include sandhill crane, great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, American bittern, snowy egret, American white pelican, American avocet, long-billed curlew, willet, Virginia rail, spotted sandpiper, and common snipe.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS2">Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "Fauna"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, pp. 8–10.</ref><ref name="TB2">Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "Table B-2, Birds of the Gerber Reservoir Area"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, pp. B-5–B-8.</ref>
left|thumb|250px|Osprey nest overlooking Gerber ReservoirIn the forest around the reservoir, there are black-billed magpies, common ravens, Brewer's blackbirds, northern flickers, rock doves, and mourning doves as well as downy woodpecker. Several owl species are found near the reservoir. These include the great horned owl, great grey owl, barn owl, and screech owl. Other bird species common to the area are Steller's jay, pinyon jay, scrub jay, American robin, hermit thrush, western bluebird, mountain bluebird, western meadowlark, horned lark, Cassin's finch, sagebrush sparrow, lark sparrows cedar waxwing, brown creeper, mountain chickadee, dark-eyed junco, red-breasted nuthatch, yellow-rumped warblers, red crossbill, northern oriole, green-tailed towhee, Lazuli bunting, plain titmouse, purple martin, cliff swallow, rock wren, Hammond's flycatcher, American dusky flycatcher, western kingbird, brown-headed cowbird, pine siskin, sage thrasher, and two hummingbird species. The reservoir also attracts birds of prey including prairie falcon, northern goshawk, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, osprey, golden eagle, and bald eagles.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS2"/><ref name="TB2"/>
The mixed conifer forest, juniper woodlands, and shrub-steppe zones around the reservoir are home to numerous mammals, both large and small. It is estimated that approximately 4,900 mule deer winter in the Gerber Reservoir area. In addition to mule deer, the larger mammals include pronghorn, Roosevelt elk, coyote, American black bear, bobcat, and cougar. Some of the small mammals found in the Gerber area are badger, raccoon, porcupine, striped skunk, western spotted skunk, marten, mink, long-tailed weasel, black-tailed jackrabbit, mountain cottontail, and pika. Rodents common to the area include western gray squirrel, golden-mantled ground squirrel, least chipmunk, western harvest mouse, Great Basin pocket mouse, and northern grasshopper mouse. There are also five bat species found in the Gerber area.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="JS2"/><ref>Silvermoon, Jon Massoglia, [https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalin00silv#page/2/mode/2up "Table B-4, Mammals of the Gerber Reservoir Area"], ''Archaeological Investigations at the Peninsula Site, 35KL87, Gerber Reservoir, South-Central Oregon'', Cultural Resource Series Number 11, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1994, pp. B-10–B-11.</ref>
Reptiles found in the Gerber area include both snakes and lizards. The snakes species are common garter snake, western terrestrial garter snake, striped whipsnake, gopher snake, rubber boa, and western rattlesnake. Lizards include western fence lizard, sagebrush lizard, short-horned lizard, and western skink. There are four amphibians that live in or around Gerber Reservoir: the Pacific tree frog, Oregon spotted frog, western toad, and the long-toed salamander.<ref name="JS2"/>
== Recreation == right|thumb|250px|Fishing along the shore of Gerber ReservoirThe Bureau of Land Management actively manages the area around Gerber Reservoir. Over the years, two campgrounds have been developed at the reservoir. Together, they provide a wide range of facilities including potable water, restrooms, campsites, picnic tables, cooking grills, boat ramps, floating docks, and fish cleaning stations. Garbage collection and a recreational vehicle dump station are also provided. Fees are charged for camping and day use at both campgrounds. There are also some primitive campsites near the reservoir. There is no fee for using the undeveloped camp sites.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="GCG">[http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=88 "Gerber Recreation Area"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083839/http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=88 |date=2014-08-19 }}, Lakeview District, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Lakeview, Oregon, 10 August 2014.</ref><ref name="CRT">[http://www.campingroadtrip.com/campgrounds/campground/campground/17687/oregon/blm-gerber-reservoir-campground "BLM Gerber Reservoir Campground"], ''www.campingroadtrip.com'', Camping Road Trip LLC, New York City, New York, 10 August 2014.</ref>
There are two campgrounds at Gerber Reservoir with a total of 50 developed campsites. Both of the campgrounds are located along the west shore of the reservoir. They are open year around. However, the campground facilities are only maintained during the summer, from mid-May to mid-September. Gerber North campground has 25 campsites, as does Gerber South campground. During the summer, the reservoir is a popular place for fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking. There are also trails near the lake for hiking and mountain biking. The ''Gerber Watchable Wildlife Tour'' has nine wildlife viewing stations near the reservoir. In addition, Gerber Reservoir is a stop on the ''Klamath Basin Birding Trail''.<ref name="RGO"/><ref name="GCG"/><ref name="CRT"/> alt=Drone image of Gerber reservoir boat ramp taken from roughly the location of the dam, looking NE.|thumb|Aerial view of Gerber Reservoir boat ramp There are a number of archeological sites near the reservoir. It is against Federal law to disturb or remove artifacts from these sites. Visitors who happen upon an archeological sites are asked to contact the Bureau of Land Management office in Klamath Falls.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="GCG"/>
== Location == Gerber Reservoir is located in Klamath County, Oregon. It is {{convert|42|mi|km}} east of Klamath Falls and {{convert|93|mi|km}} west of Lakeview, Oregon, off of Oregon Route 140. To get to the Gerber Reservoir campgrounds from Klamath Falls, take Route 140 east to Dairy, Oregon. At Dairy, turn south onto Oregon Route 70 and travel {{convert|5|mi|km}} to Bonanza, Oregon. From there, continue on ''East Langell Valley Road'' for {{convert|11|mi|km}}; then turn left onto ''Gerber Road''. Follow Gerber Road for {{convert|8.5|mi|km}} to the Gerber recreation area.<ref name="BLM"/><ref name="ATM"/><ref name="CRT"/>
== See also == * List of lakes in Oregon {{clear right}}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == *{{Commons category-inline}} *[http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/lakeview/index.php# Lakeview Bureau of Land Management District]
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Category:Reservoirs in Oregon Category:Bureau of Land Management areas in Oregon Category:Lakes of Klamath County, Oregon Category:1925 establishments in Oregon