Benton Lake (Montana)

Benton Lake in 2013

Benton Lake is a 5,600 acre wetland in the U.S. state of Montana, and within both the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Benton Lake Wetland Management District.

Location and description

1929 illustration of the area of the bird refuge area

The lake is in west-central Montana within both the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Benton Lake Wetland Management District.[1][2] Benton Lake is located approximately 3 miles north west of Black Horse Lake.[3]

The lake is a 5,600 acre shallow wetland with no natural outlets.[2] Water volumes vary seasonally.[2]

History

The lake was created during the Pleistocene glacial period.[2]

The Benton Lake Wetland Management District was created in 1929.[2]

Ecology

An eastern kingbird at Benton Lake, 2011

The lake hosts waterbirds, especially dabbing ducks.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Hydrology and water chemistry of the Benton Lake basin with emphasis on the fate of dissolved solids at Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, west-central Montana." US Official News, 22 July 2019. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A594324234/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=79395ea5. Accessed 27 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "An Evaluation of Ecosystem Restoration and Management Options for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge". Docslib. 2009. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  3. ^ Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Map, 1984, Government of Montana https://mtnhp.org/mtbird/PopPlaces_Pdfs/BentonLakeNWR.pdf


47°41′10″N 111°21′08″W / 47.68611°N 111.35222°W / 47.68611; -111.35222