Copper Creek (California)
Encyclopedia
Copper Creek is a southern tributary
of the Klamath River
in the U.S. state
of California
. Arising in the Klamath Mountains
, the creek drains a narrow watershed
of about 120 mi2. Historically, Copper Creek was the site of at least one Hupa
Native American
village, then was extensively mined for gold
in the 1850s. The origin of the name comes from the peach
-colored cliffs that line the lower few miles of the canyon.
in Trinity County
; the West Fork is the larger of the two branches. The West Fork begins at Johnson Spring on the northeastern flank of an unnamed ridge at an elevation of 5992 feet (1,826.4 m). From there, it flows north about 16.5 miles (26.6 km) to its confluence with the East Fork at 40.6304°N 123.3466°W. The East Fork rises on the south flank of West Redina Peak at 5416 feet (1,650.8 m) and flows northwest for 14.2 miles (22.9 km) to the confluence.
From the confluence, Copper Creek proceeds to flow north-northwest, looping to the southeast at the confluence with Basin Creek. It then turns north again, meander
ing through a relatively straight valley, and receives in quick succession Graham Creek and Lost Cow Creek from the right. At the confluence with Indian Creek, the creek swings northwest, crossing the Humboldt County
line and looping along the east flank of Salmon Mountain. From there, the river proceeds north-northwest through a canyon flanked by the copper
-colored cliffs that were responsible for the origin of its name—before receiving Little Copper Creek from the left and emptying into the Klamath River 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream of the city of Orleans
. The Klamath flows a further 40 miles (64.4 km) to empty into the Pacific Ocean
.
tribe lived along Copper Creek and the Klamath River around the area of the Copper's mouth. The river was called Chwuloq'e, meaning chinook salmon
. One Hupa village was located on the creek, within 5 miles (8 km) of the mouth. The river received its modern name in 1851 when miners attracted by the California Gold Rush
discovered the river while traveling on the Klamath in search of gold. The copper-colored cliffs that line the last few miles of the creek's canyon inspired them to give the stream its present name. The miners eventually employed hydraulic mining
in order to find deeper deposits of gold in the hillsides surrounding the river. This practice severely hurt the ecology of the creek and its salmon run.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Klamath River
Klamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Arising in the Klamath Mountains
Klamath Mountains
The Klamath Mountains, which include the Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, Trinity, Trinity Alps, Salmon, and northern Yolla-Bolly Mountains, are a rugged lightly populated mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon in the United States...
, the creek drains a narrow watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of about 120 mi2. Historically, Copper Creek was the site of at least one Hupa
Hupa
Hupa, also spelled Hoopa, are a Native American tribe in northwestern California. Their autonym is Natinixwe, also spelled Natinookwa, meaning "People of the Place Where the Trails Return." The majority of the tribe is enrolled in the federally recognized Hoopa Valley Tribe; however, some Hupa are...
Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
village, then was extensively mined for gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in the 1850s. The origin of the name comes from the peach
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
-colored cliffs that line the lower few miles of the canyon.
Course
It rises as two forks in the Six Rivers National ForestSix Rivers National Forest
Six Rivers National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the northwestern corner of California. It was established on July 1, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman from portions of Klamath, Siskiyou and Trinity National Forests. Its over one million acres of land contain a variety of...
in Trinity County
Trinity County, California
Trinity County is a large, rugged and mountainous, heavily forested county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of California, along the Trinity River and within the Salmon/Klamath Mountains. It covers an area of over two million acres , and as of the 2010 census its population...
; the West Fork is the larger of the two branches. The West Fork begins at Johnson Spring on the northeastern flank of an unnamed ridge at an elevation of 5992 feet (1,826.4 m). From there, it flows north about 16.5 miles (26.6 km) to its confluence with the East Fork at 40.6304°N 123.3466°W. The East Fork rises on the south flank of West Redina Peak at 5416 feet (1,650.8 m) and flows northwest for 14.2 miles (22.9 km) to the confluence.
From the confluence, Copper Creek proceeds to flow north-northwest, looping to the southeast at the confluence with Basin Creek. It then turns north again, meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing through a relatively straight valley, and receives in quick succession Graham Creek and Lost Cow Creek from the right. At the confluence with Indian Creek, the creek swings northwest, crossing the Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
line and looping along the east flank of Salmon Mountain. From there, the river proceeds north-northwest through a canyon flanked by the copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
-colored cliffs that were responsible for the origin of its name—before receiving Little Copper Creek from the left and emptying into the Klamath River 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream of the city of Orleans
Orleans, California
Orleans , Karuk name Panamnik, is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located northeast of Weitchpec, at an elevation of 404 feet...
. The Klamath flows a further 40 miles (64.4 km) to empty into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
History
Historically, the HupaHupa
Hupa, also spelled Hoopa, are a Native American tribe in northwestern California. Their autonym is Natinixwe, also spelled Natinookwa, meaning "People of the Place Where the Trails Return." The majority of the tribe is enrolled in the federally recognized Hoopa Valley Tribe; however, some Hupa are...
tribe lived along Copper Creek and the Klamath River around the area of the Copper's mouth. The river was called Chwuloq'e, meaning 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...
. One Hupa village was located on the creek, within 5 miles (8 km) of the mouth. The river received its modern name in 1851 when miners attracted by the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
discovered the river while traveling on the Klamath in search of gold. The copper-colored cliffs that line the last few miles of the creek's canyon inspired them to give the stream its present name. The miners eventually employed hydraulic mining
Hydraulic mining
Hydraulic mining, or hydraulicking, is a form of mining that uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment. In the placer mining of gold or tin, the resulting water-sediment slurry is directed through sluice boxes to remove the gold.-Precursor - ground...
in order to find deeper deposits of gold in the hillsides surrounding the river. This practice severely hurt the ecology of the creek and its salmon run.