Lake Chillisquaque

Lake Chillisquaque
Montour Lake
Lake Chillisquaque from the west in July
Location	Anthony Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	41°06′18″N 76°39′36″W / 41.105°N 76.660°W / 41.105; -76.660Coordinates: 41°06′18″N 76°39′36″W / 41.105°N 76.660°W / 41.105; -76.660
Type	Reservoir
Etymology	Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek
Primary inflows	primarily Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek
Primary outflows	Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek
Managing agency	PPL
Built	1972 (1972)
Surface area	165 acres (67 ha)
Max. depth	40 feet (12 m)
Shore length1	approximately 4.0 miles (6.4 km)
Surface elevation	567 feet (173 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Chillisquaque (also known as Montour Lake) is a lake and reservoir in Montour County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It has a surface area of 165 acres. The lake is situated on Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek, which it is named after. Nearby communities include Danville and Washingtonville. The lake has an elevation of 567 feet (173 m) above sea level and is up to 40 feet (12 m) deep. It has several coves, including Goose Cove, Heron Cove, and Jellyfish Cove. The lake is dammed on its southern side by the Lake Chillisquaque Dam, which is 2,000 feet (610 m) long and 54 feet (16 m) high. The metals with the highest concentrations are calcium and iron. Nonmetals such as nitrogen and phosphorus are also found in the lake. It experiences agricultural runoff as well.

Lake Chillisquaque is owned by Pennsylvania energy company Talen. It was constructed in 1972 and was originally created to serve as a supply of cooling water for the Montour Power Plant (a purpose which it still serves), but has also come to be used for recreational purposes. Approximately 200 bird species have been observed on or near the lake and more than 50 species of waterfowl pass by the lake during migration. It is also inhabited by numerous species of fish, some of which are stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Various trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants live in the vicinity of the lake as well. The main recreational activities on or near Lake Chillisquaque include fishing, boating, and hiking. The lake is also surrounded by the Montour Preserve, a nature preserve.

Lake Chillisquaque is located on Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek, in Anthony Township. However, other streams feed into the lake as well. It is 11 miles (18 km) north of Danville and 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Washingtonville. The lake can be accessed via Pennsylvania Route 44 and Pennsylvania Route 54. The nearest road is Preserve Road/State Route 1006. The lake has an elevation of 567 feet (173 m). With a surface area of 165 acres, the lake is the largest of 82 bodies of water in Montour County. Lake Chillisquaque is the only reservoir in Montour County. Lake Chillisquaque is surrounded by forested hills and agricultural land. The Muncy Hills are situated to the north of the lake.