Hart Lake (Oregon)

Hart Lake
North shore of Hart Lake
Location	Lake County, Oregon, US
Coordinates	42°25′12″N 119°50′42″W / 42.420°N 119.845°W / 42.420; -119.845Coordinates: 42°25′12″N 119°50′42″W / 42.420°N 119.845°W / 42.420; -119.845
Type	Natural endorheic lake
Primary inflows	Crump Lake overflow and Honey Creek
Catchment area	1,094 square miles (2,830 km2)
Max. length	6.5 mi (10.5 km)
Max. width	2.0 mi (3.2 km)
Surface area	7,324 acres (2,964 ha)
Average depth	5 ft (1.5 m)
Max. depth	11 ft (3.4 m)
Water volume	39,427 acre feet (48,632,000 m3)
Residence time	6 months
Shore length1	20.7 mi (33.3 km)
Surface elevation	4,473 ft (1,363 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Hart Lake is a shallow lake in the Warner Valley of eastern Lake County, Oregon, United States. The lake covers 7,324 acres (29.64 km²) and has the most stable water level within the valley's Warner Lakes chain. The lake is named for the heart-shaped brand used by the pioneer Wilson and Alexander cattle ranch established near the lake. Much of the land around Hart Lake is administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The lake and the surrounding wetlands support a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Recreational opportunities on and near Hart Lake include hunting, fishing, bird watching, and boating.

Hart Lake is located in the Warner Valley in south-central Oregon. It is a natural lake that covers 7,324 acres (29.64 km²) and is approximately 6.5 miles (10.5 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide. Annual precipitation in the Hart Lake basin averages from 15 to 25 inches (380 to 640 mm). The valley is approximately 60 miles (97 km) long and 8 miles (13 km) wide. Most of the valley is in Lake County; however, the north end extends about 10 miles (16 km) into Harney County. It is an alluvial basin containing numerous lakes, remnants of a single lake that covered the valley floor up to 200 feet (61 m) deep during the epoch. Today, steep cliffs rise above a chain of endorheic lakes, such as Hart Lake, known collectively as the Warner Lakes. The valley has two regions commonly referred to as the South Warner Valley and the North Warner Valley. The two areas transition between Crump Lake and Hart Lake at a point where the valley narrows to about 5 miles (8 km) in width.

The entire lake has an average depth of 5 feet (1.5 m) and a maximum depth of 11 feet (3.4 m) at a normal water level. The deepest part of the lake is at its north end, while the south half is comparatively shallow. Hart Lake not only gets the overflow from Crump Lake, but also receives a steady flow of fresh water from Honey Creek. As a result, Hart Lake has the most stable water level within the Warner Lakes chain. Any outflow during high water drains into Anderson Lake, just north of Hart Lake.