Howard Prairie Lake, reservoir in Jackson County, Oregon, United States

Howard Prairie Lake is a reservoir 18 miles east of Ashland in Jackson County, Oregon, held back by a 100-foot earth-fill Howard Prairie Dam on Beaver Creek. It covers about 1,990 acres at an average depth of 35 feet, reaching 80 feet at its deepest, and lies at 4,526 feet in the Cascade Mountains among pine and fir forest. The resort on the north shore has a marina, boat ramp, restaurant, campground and store.

The lake was created in 1958 when a large earth dam was constructed across Beaver Creek, with water also diverted from Little Butte Creek to manage flooding and support irrigation. Since its completion, it has grown into an important recreational and water management center for the region.

The lake's name comes from the surrounding prairie, and its fishery is known for rainbow trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Ducks and geese live around the shore, and the Howard Prairie Lake Resort on the northern shore has a marina, boat ramp, restaurant, campground and convenience store.

Campgrounds operate from late April through October and require advance reservations, especially for busy weekends, with stays limited to two weeks within any 30-day period. The resort provides boat slips and rentals, a store with fishing supplies, and a cafe offering simple meals.

In drier years, water levels drop dramatically, reaching just 4 percent of capacity during 2020-21, revealing the lake's strong dependence on seasonal rain and snowmelt. These extreme fluctuations affect both how visitors can use the lake and its visual appearance throughout the year.