|
|
Causey Reservoir
|
Causey Reservoir is located near the top of Ogden Canyon. Click here for map. The lake is fairly small and is shaped like a T-Rex footprint, with three slot canyons extending away from the dam. Visibility is quite good. Altitude is 6300 feet. Picture: Causey Reservoir, looking east. Bruce Argyle, October 6, 1998. |
| The Water: The water is a light blue-green, with a few
suspended algae particles as you go deeper. Visibility is 14-20 feet. We found the
visibility to be best in the north arm of the lake. Mid-summer surface temperature is 66
degrees. October 6th temperature was 57 degrees. We did not encounter a thermocline.
Maximum depth is 65 feet, but the reservoir will draw down about 30 feet during the
season. A small rainbow |
|
|
You can get to the lake at three locations: at the end of the northern
arm, just south of the dam, and at the end of the southern arm. Except for the site at the
south end of the dam, you can get to the water only at the very end of the arms of the
lake. To reach the cliffs of the middle arm, you'd want to use a small rubber boat. (Note: there are several warning signs about life jackets. Your wet suit might not prevent a ticket if you're paddling around in a rubber raft without a "floatation device.") Middle arm of Causey from the Skull Crack trail. Man doth not live by scuba alone, but also by mountain biking. Bruce Argyle, October 6, 1998. |
| What to see: The walls of the reservoir are quite steep.
The bottom slopes rapidly towards the old creek bottom. The terrain is mostly rocks with
patches of silt. In the shallows, fine moss grows in patches. Every body of water in Utah seems to have a golf ball at the bottom. Miles from a golf course, and with steep rough banks, we thought Causey might be an exception. |
|
 |
Crayfish can be found under rocks, but you'll have to look hard. If you're
after crawdads, you should plan on a night dive. This crayfish was tangled in fish line. Note the bubble behind it. Bruce Argyle, Nikonos V 20 mm, 2 YS-50 strobes. |
| Take a minute to admire the snails and invertebrate life. The reservoir is
packed with snails such as this one at right. This snail was about one inch long. Snail at Causey Reservoir. |
|
 |
And in the hair moss, these bugs are all over the place. We presume
they're a larvae for some type of fly. If anybody wants to tell us what they're called, email us! Arthropod
larvae on moss. |
There are trout in Causey, but they tend to stay out of sight during the day. Cheez Whiz doesn't tempt them (probably because of the tons of invertebrate "food" in the lake). You'll have better luck at night.
Services: There are no bathrooms, water, or other services at the lake. There are campgrounds a few miles away. Nearest dive services are in Ogden.
|
Thermal protection: You'll want your full farmer john and
jacket, plus a hood and gloves. Bruce hovers above the camera
(self-portrait). |
| Regulations: Spearfishing is allowed in
Causey, starting with the 2001 season. Limit -- 2 gamefish. Best chance of
finding fish is early June or late September. See Regulations. Fees: None. |
|
 |
Seasonal variation: Causey melts out in May, but the cold high-country runoff keeps the water very cool until August. It remains comfortable with a full wet suit through mid-October. |
Our recommendation: The good visibility makes Causey a good choice to just "cruise" and look at the terrain while you get your fin muscles in shape. If you want animal action, you should do Causey as a night dive. See our altitude camera precautions and the altitude-adjusted dive depths.
Getting there: Click here for map.
Exit I-15 at the Ogden 12th Street (U-39) exit. Go east on U-39 into Ogden
Canyon. Continue straight at the Pineview dam. After circling Pineview Reservoir, U-39
turns right (east) in Huntsville, 17 miles from the freeway exit. At 25 miles, the road to
Causey turns off U-39. Drive 2 miles to the dam. Continue straight up the hill (rather
than crossing the dam) to dive the north arm, or turn right over the dam to dive the south
end of the dam or the south arm of the lake.
Sample sites:
North Arm: Continue uphill as you approach the lake, rather than dscending to the dam.
After a steep hill, the road descends towards the water at the end of the north arm.
You'll need to swim a bit from the creek mouth to find deeper water. GPS N 41° 18.871' W
111° 34.590'
Dam: As the road turns away from the lake on the far side of the dam, find a spot to park.
Walk a bit south from the dam. GPS N 41° 17.851' W 111° 35.118'
South Arm: Go across the dam. Continue south until you reach the water at the Skull Crack
trailhead. GPS N 41° 17.366' W 111° 34.926
This dive site review was compiled October 1998 by Bruce Argyle.
