The North Fork Owyhee River is a tributary, about 30 miles (48 km) long, of the Owyhee River in Malheur County, Oregon, and Owyhee County, Idaho, in the United States. It begins on the east flank of the Owyhee Mountains in Idaho and flows generally southwest to meet the main stem at Three Forks, Oregon, 161 miles (259 km) above the confluence of the larger river with the Snake River.[6]
North Fork Owyhee River
Location of the mouth of the North Fork Owyhee River in Oregon
Named tributaries of the North Fork, from source to mouth, include Noon Creek, which enters from the right; Pleasant Valley Creek, left; and Juniper Creek, right, all on the Idaho side of the border. Further downstream on the Oregon side, Squaw Creek enters from the left, Cherry Creek from the right, and the Middle Fork Owyhee River from the left before the North Fork meets the main stem at Three Forks.[6]
The upper 20.8 miles (33.5 km) of the North Fork, from the upstream boundary of the North Fork Owyhee Wilderness to the Idaho–Oregon border, are part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Of this total, 15.1 miles (24.3 km) are classified as wild and the remaining 5.7 miles (9.2 km) are recreational.[4] The lower 9.6 miles (15.4 km) of the North Fork, from the Idaho–Oregon border to the main stem, is also classified as wild. It flows through a deep canyon rimmed with basalt.[5] The Bureau of Land Management oversees the land along the river in both states.[4][5]
Camping
The BLM operates North Fork Campground, about 27 miles (43 km) southeast of Jordan Valley, Oregon. Amenities include seven primitive campsites, picnic tables, fire grates, and a vault toilet but no drinking water.[7]
Wilderness
In 2009, the United States Congress designated the wilderness, which covers about 43,000 acres (17,000 ha) in the Idaho portion of the North Fork watershed. It extends from the headwaters in Idaho almost to the border with Oregon. Managed by the BLM, it includes river canyons that are more than 1,000 feet (300 m) deep as well as large expanses of plateau. The wilderness is home to sage grouse, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, rare plants, and many other species.[8] The wilderness is about 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Boise.[9]
^ abc"North Fork Owyhee River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). June 21, 1979. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
^McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 735. ISBN0-87595-277-1.
^Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
^ abc"Owyhee River (North Fork), Idaho". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
^ abc"Owyhee River (North Fork), Oregon". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
^ ab"United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via ACME Mapper.
^"North Fork Campground". Bureau of Land Management. 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
^"North Fork Owyhee Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
north, fork, owyhee, river, tributary, about, miles, long, owyhee, river, malheur, county, oregon, owyhee, county, idaho, united, states, begins, east, flank, owyhee, mountains, idaho, flows, generally, southwest, meet, main, stem, three, forks, oregon, miles,. The North Fork Owyhee River is a tributary about 30 miles 48 km long of the Owyhee River in Malheur County Oregon and Owyhee County Idaho in the United States It begins on the east flank of the Owyhee Mountains in Idaho and flows generally southwest to meet the main stem at Three Forks Oregon 161 miles 259 km above the confluence of the larger river with the Snake River 6 North Fork Owyhee RiverLocation of the mouth of the North Fork Owyhee River in OregonShow map of OregonNorth Fork Owyhee River the United States Show map of the United StatesEtymologyAn early name for Hawaii 2 LocationCountryUnited StatesStateOregon IdahoCountyMalheur County Oregon Owyhee County IdahoPhysical characteristicsSourceOwyhee Mountains locationnear Indian Meadows Idaho coordinates42 40 59 N 116 47 25 W 42 68306 N 116 79028 W 42 68306 116 79028 1 elevation6 685 ft 2 038 m 3 MouthOwyhee River locationThree Forks Oregon coordinates42 32 39 N 117 10 10 W 42 54417 N 117 16944 W 42 54417 117 16944 1 elevation3 953 ft 1 205 m 1 Length30 4 mi 48 9 km 4 5 National Wild and Scenic RiverTypeWild RecreationalDesignatedOctober 28 1988Named tributaries of the North Fork from source to mouth include Noon Creek which enters from the right Pleasant Valley Creek left and Juniper Creek right all on the Idaho side of the border Further downstream on the Oregon side Squaw Creek enters from the left Cherry Creek from the right and the Middle Fork Owyhee River from the left before the North Fork meets the main stem at Three Forks 6 Contents 1 Wild and scenic designation 2 Camping 3 Wilderness 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksWild and scenic designation EditThe upper 20 8 miles 33 5 km of the North Fork from the upstream boundary of the North Fork Owyhee Wilderness to the Idaho Oregon border are part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Of this total 15 1 miles 24 3 km are classified as wild and the remaining 5 7 miles 9 2 km are recreational 4 The lower 9 6 miles 15 4 km of the North Fork from the Idaho Oregon border to the main stem is also classified as wild It flows through a deep canyon rimmed with basalt 5 The Bureau of Land Management oversees the land along the river in both states 4 5 Camping EditThe BLM operates North Fork Campground about 27 miles 43 km southeast of Jordan Valley Oregon Amenities include seven primitive campsites picnic tables fire grates and a vault toilet but no drinking water 7 Wilderness EditIn 2009 the United States Congress designated the wilderness which covers about 43 000 acres 17 000 ha in the Idaho portion of the North Fork watershed It extends from the headwaters in Idaho almost to the border with Oregon Managed by the BLM it includes river canyons that are more than 1 000 feet 300 m deep as well as large expanses of plateau The wilderness is home to sage grouse pronghorn bighorn sheep rare plants and many other species 8 The wilderness is about 80 miles 130 km southwest of Boise 9 See also EditList of rivers of Idaho List of rivers of OregonReferences Edit a b c North Fork Owyhee River Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey USGS June 21 1979 Retrieved November 21 2015 McArthur Lewis A Lewis L McArthur 2003 1928 Oregon Geographic Names 7th ed Portland Oregon Historical Society Press p 735 ISBN 0 87595 277 1 Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates a b c Owyhee River North Fork Idaho National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Retrieved November 21 2015 a b c Owyhee River North Fork Oregon National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Retrieved November 21 2015 a b United States Topographic Map United States Geological Survey Retrieved November 20 2015 via ACME Mapper North Fork Campground Bureau of Land Management 2015 Retrieved November 21 2015 North Fork Owyhee Wilderness Wilderness net Retrieved November 22 2015 North Fork Owyhee Wilderness ID Recreation gov 2014 Retrieved November 22 2015 External links EditNational Wild and Scenic Rivers System Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North Fork Owyhee River amp oldid 1000171296, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
