Benton Lake (Montana)

Coordinates: 47°41′10″N 111°21′08″W / 47.68611°N 111.35222°W / 47.68611; -111.35222
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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[edit]

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[edit]

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

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

Ecology[edit]

An eastern kingbird at Benton Lake, 2011

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

References[edit]

  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