Formed by the
O'Sullivan Dam in southern
Grant County, Potholes Reservoir stores water diverted from the
Columbia River many miles to the north. It is a center for recreation and wildlife, as well as providing irrigation water for agriculture in the region.
The reservoir gets its name from the many glacial depressions, or "potholes". These potholes and associated small islands make this one of Washington's premier birding locations.
The surface area of the reservoir is some 23,000 acres, leading to its nickname, "Grant County's Ocean in the Desert."
Formed by the