Minam Lake is a high-elevation reservoir in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of the Wallowa Mountains in the U.S. state of Oregon.

[1] The unusual reservoir, a modified natural lake, has outlets on both its north and south ends.

[3] A natural lake at this spot had only a south outlet.

The dam's purpose was to store additional water and to deflect it north for irrigation of farms in the Lostine Valley.

The latter referred to the Minam River Valley, where a kind of plant with edible roots grew in abundance.