The Middle Fork Feather River is a major river in Plumas and Butte Counties in the U.S. state of California.[1] Nearly 100 miles (160 km) long, it drains about 1,062 square miles (2,750 km2)[3] of the rugged northern Sierra Nevada range.[5]
Its headwaters are located near Beckwourth[1] in the largest alpine basin in the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra Valley. The convergence of several streams there creates the Sierra Valley Channels,[6] the largest of which is Little Last Chance Creek, flowing out of Frenchman Lake across the northeast side of the valley. Flowing west, it is joined by Big Grizzly Creek, with waters from Lake Davis. The river continues west, passing Portola and turning northwest at Clio,[6] where it is joined by Sulphur Creek. In the area of Graeagle, It is joined by Frazier Creek, flowing out of Gold Lake, then Gray Eagle Creek, flowing out of Long Lake.[6]
After flowing through the Mohawk Valley, it then turns westwards into a canyon. Jamison Creek and Nelson Creek enter from the left, then Onion Valley Creek a few miles onward.[6] Bear Creek, Willow Creek and the North Fork Middle Fork Feather River all come in from the right as the river courses west-southwest through a tight, steep canyon strewn with rapids.[6] It is then joined by the South Branch Middle Fork Feather River from the left.[6] As the river widens into an arm of Lake Oroville, a reservoir formed by the Oroville Dam, the Fall River joins from the left.[6] The reservoir is fed by the North, Middle, West and South Forks of the Feather River, which once joined in the valley to form the main Feather River. That river continues southwards to join the Sacramento River near the unincorporated community of Plumas Landing.[6]
One of the Middle Fork Feather's tributaries, the Fall River, feeds the 640-foot (200 m) Feather Falls. This waterfall is often claimed to be the third or sixth tallest in the United States;[7][8] but in reality is nowhere near the top ten in height.[9]
Wild and Scenic Riveredit
The Middle Fork is recognized by the US Government for its untamed beauty and is designated a National Wild and Scenic River for 77.6 miles of its length.[10] The 32.9 mile stretch inaccessible to roads is home to some of the best wild trout fishing in California.
Grizzly Valleyedit
The Grizzly Valley is a 21 sq mi (54 km2) landform of the upper Middle Fork Feather watershed that receives 29-37 inches of annual precipitation.[11] The valley is the location of Lake Davis, an impoundment of Big Grizzly Creek by the 1967 Grizzly Valley Dam.[12]
^ abcd"USGS Gage #11394500 on the Middle Fork Feather River near Merrimac, CA (Monthly Average Streamflow)". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1951–1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
^"USGS Gage #11394500 on the Middle Fork Feather River near Merrimac, CA (Peak Streamflow)". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1951–1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
^George, Holly; et al. (March 2007). (PDF). State Water Resources Control Board. University of California Davis. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
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The Middle Fork Feather River is a major river in Plumas and Butte Counties in the U S state of California 1 Nearly 100 miles 160 km long it drains about 1 062 square miles 2 750 km2 3 of the rugged northern Sierra Nevada range 5 Middle Fork Feather RiverEl Rio de las Plumas 1 The Middle Fork near Red Bridge Campground May 2022Map of the Feather River watershed including the Middle Fork FeatherEtymology Plumas means feather in SpanishLocationCountryUnited StatesStateCaliforniaRegionSierra NevadaCitiesBeckwourth Portola Cromberg GraeaglePhysical characteristicsSourceNear Beckwourth locationSierra Valley Plumas County coordinates39 48 49 N 120 22 46 W 39 81361 N 120 37944 W 39 81361 120 37944 1 elevation4 872 ft 1 485 m 2 MouthLake Oroville locationAbout 10 miles 16 km northeast of Oroville Butte County coordinates39 38 29 N 121 17 11 W 39 64139 N 121 28639 W 39 64139 121 28639 1 elevation928 ft 283 m 1 Length98 mi 158 km East westBasin size1 062 sq mi 2 750 km2 3 Discharge locationMerrimac 3 average1 489 5 cu ft s 42 18 m3 s 3 maximum86 200 cu ft s 2 440 m3 s 4 Basin featuresRiver systemFeather River watershedTributaries leftSulphur Creek Frazier Creek Gray Eagle Creek Jamison Creek Nelson Creek Onion Valley Creek South Branch Middle Fork Feather River Fall River rightLittle Last Chance Creek Big Grizzly Creek Bear Creek North Fork Middle Fork Feather River Contents 1 Geography 2 Wild and Scenic River 3 Grizzly Valley 4 ReferencesGeography editIts headwaters are located near Beckwourth 1 in the largest alpine basin in the Sierra Nevada the Sierra Valley The convergence of several streams there creates the Sierra Valley Channels 6 the largest of which is Little Last Chance Creek flowing out of Frenchman Lake across the northeast side of the valley Flowing west it is joined by Big Grizzly Creek with waters from Lake Davis The river continues west passing Portola and turning northwest at Clio 6 where it is joined by Sulphur Creek In the area of Graeagle It is joined by Frazier Creek flowing out of Gold Lake then Gray Eagle Creek flowing out of Long Lake 6 After flowing through the Mohawk Valley it then turns westwards into a canyon Jamison Creek and Nelson Creek enter from the left then Onion Valley Creek a few miles onward 6 Bear Creek Willow Creek and the North Fork Middle Fork Feather River all come in from the right as the river courses west southwest through a tight steep canyon strewn with rapids 6 It is then joined by the South Branch Middle Fork Feather River from the left 6 As the river widens into an arm of Lake Oroville a reservoir formed by the Oroville Dam the Fall River joins from the left 6 The reservoir is fed by the North Middle West and South Forks of the Feather River which once joined in the valley to form the main Feather River That river continues southwards to join the Sacramento River near the unincorporated community of Plumas Landing 6 One of the Middle Fork Feather s tributaries the Fall River feeds the 640 foot 200 m Feather Falls This waterfall is often claimed to be the third or sixth tallest in the United States 7 8 but in reality is nowhere near the top ten in height 9 Wild and Scenic River editThe Middle Fork is recognized by the US Government for its untamed beauty and is designated a National Wild and Scenic River for 77 6 miles of its length 10 The 32 9 mile stretch inaccessible to roads is home to some of the best wild trout fishing in California Grizzly Valley editThe Grizzly Valley is a 21 sq mi 54 km2 landform of the upper Middle Fork Feather watershed that receives 29 37 inches of annual precipitation 11 The valley is the location of Lake Davis an impoundment of Big Grizzly Creek by the 1967 Grizzly Valley Dam 12 References edit a b c d e f Middle Fork Feather River Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior 1981 01 19 Retrieved 2010 09 16 NOTE For the coordinates of the Middle Fork s mouth the USGS s National Elevation Database lists a different elevation 902 7 ft Elevation query for X Value 121 2807956 amp Y Value 39 6376648 returns 902 739597430692 FEET USGS Elevation Query Web Service Retrieved 2010 09 25 North Channel Little Last Chance Creek Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior 1981 01 19 Retrieved 2010 09 16 a b c d USGS Gage 11394500 on the Middle Fork Feather River near Merrimac CA Monthly Average Streamflow National Water Information System U S Geological Survey 1951 1986 Retrieved 2010 09 16 USGS Gage 11394500 on the Middle Fork Feather River near Merrimac CA Peak Streamflow National Water Information System U S Geological Survey 1951 1986 Retrieved 2010 09 16 George Holly et al March 2007 Upper Feather River Watershed UFRW Irrigation Discharge Management Program PDF State Water Resources Control Board University of California Davis Archived from the original PDF on 2010 06 12 Retrieved 2010 09 16 a b c d e f g h USGS Topo Maps for United States Map Cartography by United States Geological Survey ACME Mapper Retrieved 2010 09 16 Soares John R Soares Marc J 2008 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California The Mountaineers Books p 68 ISBN 978 1 59485 062 2 Adkison Ron 2000 Hiking Northern California Globe Pequot p 267 ISBN 1 56044 701 X Swan Bryan Goss Dean Showing all Waterfalls in USA World Waterfall Database Retrieved 2010 09 16 Middle Fork of the Feather Wild and Scenic River California rivers gov Archived from the original on 2011 10 15 Retrieved 2011 11 03 Grizzly Valley Groundwater Basin PDF 2004 02 27 Retrieved 2010 09 24 Appendix H PDF EPA gov Retrieved 2010 09 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Middle Fork Feather River amp oldid 1198154017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
