Abiqua Creek
Encyclopedia
Abiqua Creek is a tributary of the Pudding River
in the U.S. state of Oregon
. The creek originates near Lookout Mountain in the foothills of the Cascade Range
in the northwestern part of the state. It flows northwest for about 29 miles (46.7 km) to its confluence
with the Pudding, about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Silverton
, in the Willamette Valley
. About 20 miles (32.2 km) north of Silverton, the Pudding River meets the Molalla River
, which meets the Willamette River
less than 1 miles (1.6 km) later near Canby
.
The creek is the main source of drinking water for Silverton, which operates a diversion dam upstream. The city, the Pudding River Watershed Council, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
are working to improve fish passage on the creek and are studying the effectiveness of the dam's fish ladder
. Abiqua Creek has historically supported the largest steelhead spawning populations in the Pudding River watershed.
and flows down a canyon. Ridges on the north and south separate its watershed from Silver Creek
on the south and Butte Creek
on the north. Named tributaries include Sweet Spring Creek, entering from the left about river mile
(RM) 26 or river kilometer (RK) 42; Wildcat Creek, from the left about 2 miles (3.2 km) later; Trinity Falls Creek from the right about 21 miles (33.8 km) from the mouth, and over the next 2 miles (3.2 km) Bucket Creek from the right, Homestead Creek from the left, Johnson Creek from the right, and Goober Creek from the right, in that order.
Just below Goober Creek near Santiam State Forest
, the stream plunges 101 feet (30.8 m) over Abiqua Falls. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) places the falls at coordinates 44.9265111°N 122.5667521°W at an elevation of 1358 feet (413.9 m) above sea level
. Downstream of the falls, the creek runs close by Milk Ranch Road and then Abiqua Road, both on the right. At about RM 12 (RK 19), Abiqua Creek receives Hammond Creek, and shortly thereafter Echo Creek, and about 4 miles (6.4 km) later, Powers Creek, all from the left.
About 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the mouth, the stream passes under Oregon Route 213 between Silverton
and Molalla
, and about 1 miles (1.6 km) from the mouth it goes under Oregon Route 214 between Silverton and Mount Angel
. Shortly thereafter, it passes under Gallon House Road, which is carried by the covered Gallon House Bridge
. It crosses under Mount Angel Highway before reaching the Pudding River, 45.7 miles (73.5 km) by river from its confluence with the Molalla River.
. The Abiqua Creek water reaches the city from a diversion dam in the Cascade Range foothills at RM 10.4 (RK 16.7). The diversion dam's higher elevation above sea level allows water to flow to the Silverton water treatment
plant without pumping.
In 2007, the city of Silverton, the Pudding River Watershed Council, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(ODFW) began a project to improve fish passage on Abiqua Creek. The first stage of the project involves evaluating the effectiveness of the fish ladder
on the city's diversion dam, built in 1916. The creek supports native populations of winter steelhead and has the potential to support spring Chinook salmon
. Abiqua Creek has historically supported the
largest steelhead spawn
ing populations in the Pudding River watershed. A catch-and-release fishing season for cutthroat trout
begins at the end of May, but the creek is closed to salmon and steelhead fishing.
Pudding River
The Pudding River is a tributary of the Molalla River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its drainage basin covers . Among its tributaries is the Little Pudding River...
in the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The creek originates near Lookout Mountain in the foothills of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
in the northwestern part of the state. It flows northwest for about 29 miles (46.7 km) to its confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
with the Pudding, about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Silverton
Silverton, Oregon
Silverton is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. About 20 miles (32.2 km) north of Silverton, the Pudding River meets the Molalla River
Molalla River
The Molalla River is a tributary of the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon.-Geography:Its headwaters are in Clackamas County, in the Table Rock Wilderness, near Table Rock, in the Cascade Range...
, which meets the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
less than 1 miles (1.6 km) later near Canby
Canby, Oregon
Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:...
.
The creek is the main source of drinking water for Silverton, which operates a diversion dam upstream. The city, the Pudding River Watershed Council, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
are working to improve fish passage on the creek and are studying the effectiveness of the dam's fish ladder
Fish ladder
A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
. Abiqua Creek has historically supported the largest steelhead spawning populations in the Pudding River watershed.
Course
The creek begins in the Abiqua Basin about 5 miles (8 km) north-northeast of Silver Falls State ParkSilver Falls State Park
Silver Falls State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, located near Silverton, about east-southeast of Salem. It is the largest state park in Oregon with an area of more than , and it includes more than of walking trails, of horse trails, and a bike path...
and flows down a canyon. Ridges on the north and south separate its watershed from Silver Creek
Silver Creek (Oregon)
Silver Creek is the name of several different streams in the U.S. state of Oregon, including:...
on the south and Butte Creek
Butte Creek (Oregon)
Butte Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Oregon, a tributary of the Pudding River. It is approximately long and, for all of its course, defines part of the northeastern boundary of Marion County and the southern boundary of Clackamas County.- Course :...
on the north. Named tributaries include Sweet Spring Creek, entering from the left about river mile
River mile
In the United States, a River mile is a measure of distance in miles along a river from its mouth. River mile numbers begin at zero and increase further upstream. The corresponding metric unit using kilometers is the River kilometer...
(RM) 26 or river kilometer (RK) 42; Wildcat Creek, from the left about 2 miles (3.2 km) later; Trinity Falls Creek from the right about 21 miles (33.8 km) from the mouth, and over the next 2 miles (3.2 km) Bucket Creek from the right, Homestead Creek from the left, Johnson Creek from the right, and Goober Creek from the right, in that order.
Just below Goober Creek near Santiam State Forest
Santiam State Forest
Santiam State Forest is one of six state forests managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry. The forest is located approximately southeast of Salem, Oregon, and includes on the western slope of the Cascade Mountains in three Oregon counties: Clackamas, Linn, and Marion. It is bounded on the...
, the stream plunges 101 feet (30.8 m) over Abiqua Falls. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) places the falls at coordinates 44.9265111°N 122.5667521°W at an elevation of 1358 feet (413.9 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Downstream of the falls, the creek runs close by Milk Ranch Road and then Abiqua Road, both on the right. At about RM 12 (RK 19), Abiqua Creek receives Hammond Creek, and shortly thereafter Echo Creek, and about 4 miles (6.4 km) later, Powers Creek, all from the left.
About 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the mouth, the stream passes under Oregon Route 213 between Silverton
Silverton, Oregon
Silverton is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and Molalla
Molalla, Oregon
Molalla is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,647 at the 2000 census.-History:Molalla was named after the Molalla River, which in turn was named for the Molala, a Native American tribe that inhabited the area. William H. Vaughan took up a donation land claim in...
, and about 1 miles (1.6 km) from the mouth it goes under Oregon Route 214 between Silverton and Mount Angel
Mount Angel, Oregon
Mt. Angel is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It is northeast of Salem, Oregon on Oregon Route 214. The population was 3,121 at the 2000 census. Mt. Angel is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Portland State University Population Research Center estimate from 2008...
. Shortly thereafter, it passes under Gallon House Road, which is carried by the covered Gallon House Bridge
Gallon House Bridge
Gallon House Bridge is a wooden covered bridge spanning Abiqua Creek in rural Marion County, Oregon, United States built in 1916. The 84 foot long bridge derived its name during prohibition when it was a meeting place for bootleggers and moonshiners. The bridge was swept off its footings in the...
. It crosses under Mount Angel Highway before reaching the Pudding River, 45.7 miles (73.5 km) by river from its confluence with the Molalla River.
Discharge
The Marion Soil and Water Conservation District operates a stream monitor on Abiqua Creek at Gallon House Road about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) from the mouth. District calculations based on data from the monitor suggest that the flow of the creek there varies from near zero to about 250 cuft/s. These figures do not include readings near flood stage because the district's monitor cannot safely measure the highest flows.Reservoir and fish ladder
Abiqua Creek is the main water supply for the city of Silverton, which also gets water from Silver Creek and stores water in Silverton ReservoirSilverton Reservoir
Silver Creek Reservoir also known as Silverton Reservoir is a sixty-five-acre impoundment on Silver Creek located in the Cascade foothills southeast of the city of Silverton, Oregon, United States on Oregon Route 214. The reservoir serves the purpose of flood control on the creek.The lake is...
. The Abiqua Creek water reaches the city from a diversion dam in the Cascade Range foothills at RM 10.4 (RK 16.7). The diversion dam's higher elevation above sea level allows water to flow to the Silverton water treatment
Water treatment
Water treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the...
plant without pumping.
In 2007, the city of Silverton, the Pudding River Watershed Council, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
(ODFW) began a project to improve fish passage on Abiqua Creek. The first stage of the project involves evaluating the effectiveness of the fish ladder
Fish ladder
A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
on the city's diversion dam, built in 1916. The creek supports native populations of winter steelhead and has the potential to support spring Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
. Abiqua Creek has historically supported the
largest steelhead spawn
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
ing populations in the Pudding River watershed. A catch-and-release fishing season for cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
begins at the end of May, but the creek is closed to salmon and steelhead fishing.