Beaverhead River
Encyclopedia
The Beaverhead River is an approximately 69 miles (111 km)-long tributary of the Jefferson River
in southwest Montana
(East of the Continental Divide
). It drains an area of roughly 4778 mi2. The river's original headwaters, formed by the confluence of the Red Rock River
and Horse Prairie Creek, are now flooded under Clark Canyon Reservoir, which also floods the first 6 miles (9.7 km) of the river. The Beaverhead then flows through a broad valley northward to join the Big Hole River
and form the Jefferson River. With the Red Rock River included in its length, the river stretches another 70 miles (112.7 km), for a total length of 139 miles (223.7 km), one of the more significant drainages of south-western Montana.
The name of the Beaverhead originates from Beaverhead Rock
on the middle river. This rock formation was recognized by Sacajawea when the Lewis and Clark Expedition
passed the area in 1805. There were also many beaver
s in the area at the time, but the name does not originate from the animal. In 1805, Captain Meriwether Lewis
traveled up the Jefferson and Beaverhead first, but when the rest of the expedition came, a sign Lewis had left at the confluence of the Beaverhead and Big Hole telling them to follow the Beaverhead had been cut down by a beaver, and the expedition traveled up the Big Hole instead. Resultantly, the swifter current of the Big Hole swamped two of their canoes before they could travel back down to the confluence.
Together with the Red Rock River, the Beaverhead forms the uppermost headwaters of the Missouri River
, the longest tributary of the Mississippi River
.
The river is a Class I water from the Clark Canyon Dam to its confluence with the Jefferson river for the purposes of public access for recreational purposes.
Jefferson River
The Jefferson River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the U.S. state of Montana. The Jefferson River and the Madison River form the official beginning of the Missouri at Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks...
in southwest Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
(East of the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
). It drains an area of roughly 4778 mi2. The river's original headwaters, formed by the confluence of the Red Rock River
Red Rock River (Montana)
The Red Rock River is a roughly river in southwestern Montana in the United States. Its drainage basin covers over . Its farthest tributary, Hell Roaring Creek, originates in the Beaverhead National Forest near the Montana-Idaho border at Brower's Spring, at an elevation of...
and Horse Prairie Creek, are now flooded under Clark Canyon Reservoir, which also floods the first 6 miles (9.7 km) of the river. The Beaverhead then flows through a broad valley northward to join the Big Hole River
Big Hole River
The Big Hole River is a tributary of the Jefferson River, approximately 153 miles long, in southwestern Montana in the United States. It rises in Skinner lake in the Beaverhead National Forest in the Beaverhead Mountains of the Bitterroot Range at the continental divide along the...
and form the Jefferson River. With the Red Rock River included in its length, the river stretches another 70 miles (112.7 km), for a total length of 139 miles (223.7 km), one of the more significant drainages of south-western Montana.
The name of the Beaverhead originates from Beaverhead Rock
Beaverhead Rock
Beaverhead Rock is a rock feature identified by Sacagawea during the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a landmark not distant from the summer retreat of her nation...
on the middle river. This rock formation was recognized by Sacajawea when the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
passed the area in 1805. There were also many beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s in the area at the time, but the name does not originate from the animal. In 1805, Captain Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
traveled up the Jefferson and Beaverhead first, but when the rest of the expedition came, a sign Lewis had left at the confluence of the Beaverhead and Big Hole telling them to follow the Beaverhead had been cut down by a beaver, and the expedition traveled up the Big Hole instead. Resultantly, the swifter current of the Big Hole swamped two of their canoes before they could travel back down to the confluence.
Together with the Red Rock River, the Beaverhead forms the uppermost headwaters of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, the longest tributary of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
The river is a Class I water from the Clark Canyon Dam to its confluence with the Jefferson river for the purposes of public access for recreational purposes.
Advocates
- Jefferson River Watershed Council — The mission of the Jefferson River Watershed Council is to coordinate efforts, through a spirit of community cooperation and sharing, that will enhance, conserve, and protect the natural resources, quality of life, and economic vitality of the Jefferson River watershed.
- Trout Unlimited — Trout UnlimitedTrout UnlimitedTrout Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people. Often contracted as "TU," the organization began in 1959 in Michigan...
's mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. - Western Watersheds Project — The mission of Western Watersheds Project is to protect and restore western watersheds and wildlife through education, public policy initiatives and litigation.
- Montana River Action — The clean flowing waters of Montana belong to the people and are held in trust by the State for a pollution-free healthful environment guaranteed by our Montana Constitution. Montana River Action's mission is to protect and restore rivers, streams and other water bodies.