But after the completion of Grand Coulee Dam, the porous nature of the underlying basalt formations allowed water to seep from Lake Roosevelt and reappear miles away, forming other lakes in almost every depression. The nearby Potholes and Seep lakes, a collection of small lakes and pools, are prime examples. Moses Lake s community history began in 1910 when the hamlet of Neppel was founded by a small group of pioneering farmers who settled on the shores of the lake. The city name was changed in 1938 to honor Chief Moses, whose Sinkiuse Tribe used the shore as a campground. The chief, whose original name was Sulktalthscosum, had received his new name from Presbyterian missionaries in the area.
Fishing is clearly the major recreational activity in the area.
With Moses Lake and surrounding lakes totaling more than 247,000 surface acres of water, fishing is available in some lakes year-round. Local waters offer walleye, trout, bass, perch, crappie and catfish. With the abundance of water and habitat, the area is also home to a thriving bird population. The waterfowl population reaches a staggering 100,000 during autumn. At the Columbia National Wildlife refuge, just south of Moses Lake, more than 200 different species have been recorded.