Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed
Surface Area: 3,800 acres 
Shoreline Length: 40 miles
Normal Elevation: 2,239 feet
Average Depth: 100 feet
Maximum Depth: 185 feet
Lake-Area Population: 500
Water to Aquifer: 45 mgd
Hayden Lake’s irregular shape stretches for seven miles, giving the lake about 40 miles of shoreline. Three sides of Hayden Lake are surrounded by towering tree-covered mountains that rise to an elevation of 6,000 feet and extend to the east as part of the Bitterroot Mountain Range. Much of this panoramic landscape is part of the 726,362-acre Coeur d’Alene National Forest, famous for its camping, fishing, hunting, hiking trails, nature walks, horseback riding, bike riding, ATV trails, and skiing
Hayden Lake is a beautiful and popular lake, but the water quality is threatened. Kootenai Environmental Alliance has launched the multi-pronged Hayden lake Project as a concentrated effort to conserve the resource, restore water quality and protect the lake from current and future threats.
In 1998, Hayden Lake was deemed a water body with threatened water quality under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, with phosphorous being identified as the significant pollutant of concern. Phosphorus pollution creates excess nutrient loading which affects cold water aquatic life by reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen available. Phosphorous sources include sediment and runoff generated by: logging, new development in and around the watershed, shoreline septic systems, stormwater, detergents containing phosphorous, ashes from campfires and forest fires, and pet and livestock waste.
Organizations Protecting Hayden Lake
Hayden Lake Watershed Association Inc.
Hayden Lake Irrigation District
City of Hayden Lake, Idaho Comprehensive Plan
Studies, Reports, Articles and Presentations
Hayden Lake Home Owners Guide
July 9, 2015 Kootenai Environmental Alliance – Toxic Blue Green Algal Bloom at North End of Hayden Lake
May 29, 2015 KEA Floating Wetlands Launched to Help Hayden Lake
2013 – KEA Floating wetlands in McLean’s Bay
