Prineville Reservoir, formed by the Arthur R. Bowman Dam on the Crooked River, is a major water-storage and irrigation project in Central Oregon as well as one of the region’s leading recreation lakes. Completed in 1961, it flooded a juniper-and-sagebrush canyon to create a long, narrow reservoir with flood control and public recreation as secondary purposes. Boating, fishing, camping, and winter ice fishing make it a popular destination, while a wildlife management area at its northeast end supports birds, mammals, and reptiles. Its appeal grew further in 2021 when Prineville Reservoir State Park became Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Place.