North Fork Malheur River
Encyclopedia
The North Fork Malheur River is a 59 miles (95 km) tributary of the Malheur River
in eastern Oregon
in the United States
. Rising in Big Cow Burn in the Blue Mountains
, it flows generally south to join the larger river at Juntura
. The upper 25.5 miles (41 km) of the river have been designated Wild and Scenic. This part of the river basin offers camping, hiking, and fishing opportunities in a remote forest setting. The lower river passes through Beulah Reservoir, which stores water for irrigation and has facilities for boaters.
, just west of the western edge of the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest and about 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of Prairie City
. Flowing generally south through the Malheur National Forest
, the North Fork receives Horseshoe and Deadhorse creeks from the right, then Flat and Spring creeks from the left, followed by Swamp Creek from the right. Further downstream, Cow, Little Cow, and Sheep creeks enter from the right before Eopian Creek enters from the left and then Short Creek from the right.
Below Short Creek, the river leaves Baker County and enters Grant County
. Elk Creek enters from the right and Telephone Gulch from the left before the river reaches North Fork Campground and Stink Creek, which enters from the left. Dugout Creek enters from the left before the river passes under a footbridge
carrying a hiking trail running parallel to the stream. Crane Creek enters from the right at Crane Creek Campground. Further downstream, Sage Hen Gulch enters from the left.
Passing through a canyon downstream of Sage Hen Gulch, the river receives Skagway Creek from the left before turning southeast and receiving Bear Creek from the right before leaving Grant County and entering Harney County
. Beyond the county boundary Little Malheur River enters from the left. Continuing southeast, the North Fork leaves Harney County and enters Malheur County
. Castle Rock Creek enters from the left, and below this the river enters Beulah Reservoir.
As it leaves the reservoir, the river passes a stream gauge
at Beulah
, 14.5 miles (23.3 km) from the mouth. South of the reservoir, Mud Springs and McClellan gulches enter from the right and Whitley Canyon from the left. Cottonwood and Halladay gulches then enter from the right. After entering Juntura Valley, the river receives Kingsbury Gulch from the right and Curry Canyon from the left. Flowing north of and roughly parallel to U.S. Route 20
in the valley, the river turns east as it reaches Juntura and empties into the Malheur River, a tributary of the Snake River
.
The first 25.5 miles (41 km) of the river, from its headwaters to where it leaves the Malheur National Forest, has been protected since 1988 as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Of the river's total length of 59 miles (95 km), about 43 percent is Wild and Scenic.
monitors the flow of the North Fork Malheur River. The average flow of the river at Beulah is 87.9 cuft/s. This is from a drainage area of 440 square miles (1,140 km²), 80 percent of the total North Fork watershed. The maximum flow recorded there was 7000 cuft/s on May 7, 1942, during a flood caused by failure of the gates
at Agency Valley Dam. The minimum flow was 0 cuft/s on multiple occasions.
Further downstream, the Malheur County Parks Department maintains boating facilities at Beulah Reservoir on the North Fork of the Malheur River. These include a parking lot, boat ramp, and restroom, all near the dam, 15 miles (24.1 km) north of Juntura on a gravel road. Used mainly for irrigation storage, the lake fluctuates in size from season to season; it is generally high in the spring and low in the fall. At its maximum, the lake covers 1900 acres (768.9 ha).
The river is a productive trout stream. Redband trout
, rainbow trout
, and bull trout
inhabit the river above Beulah Reservoir. Fishing is limited to artificial flies and lures, and bull trout, which are threatened
, must be released unharmed. The river downstream of the reservoir flows mostly through private ranchland, and access is restricted.
Malheur River
The Malheur River is a tributary of the Snake River in eastern Oregon in the United States. It drains a high desert area, between the Harney Basin and the Blue Mountains and the Snake....
in eastern 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Rising in Big Cow Burn in the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (Oregon)
The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the western United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into southeastern Washington...
, it flows generally south to join the larger river at Juntura
Juntura, Oregon
Juntura is an unincorporated community in Malheur County, Oregon, United States on U.S. Route 20. The word juntura is Spanish for "juncture", and the community was named for its proximity to the confluence of the Malheur River with its north fork. The name was probably selected by local settler B. L...
. The upper 25.5 miles (41 km) of the river have been designated Wild and Scenic. This part of the river basin offers camping, hiking, and fishing opportunities in a remote forest setting. The lower river passes through Beulah Reservoir, which stores water for irrigation and has facilities for boaters.
Course
The river begins at Big Cow Burn in western Baker CountyBaker County, Oregon
Baker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. It is named for Edward Dickinson Baker, a senator from Oregon who was killed at Ball's Bluff, a battle of the Civil War in Virginia in 1861. It was split from the eastern part...
, just west of the western edge of the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest and about 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of Prairie City
Prairie City, Oregon
Prairie City is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,080 at the 2000 census. The community was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on February 23, 1891.-History:...
. Flowing generally south through the Malheur National Forest
Malheur National Forest
The Malheur National Forest is a National Forest in the U.S. state of Oregon. It contains 1.7 million acres in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. The forest include high desert grasslands, sage, juniper, pine, fir, and other tree species. Elevations vary from about 4000 feet to the 9038...
, the North Fork receives Horseshoe and Deadhorse creeks from the right, then Flat and Spring creeks from the left, followed by Swamp Creek from the right. Further downstream, Cow, Little Cow, and Sheep creeks enter from the right before Eopian Creek enters from the left and then Short Creek from the right.
Below Short Creek, the river leaves Baker County and enters Grant County
Grant County, Oregon
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. In 2010, its population was 7,445. It is named for President Ulysses S. Grant, who served as an army officer in the Oregon Territory, and at the time of the county's creation...
. Elk Creek enters from the right and Telephone Gulch from the left before the river reaches North Fork Campground and Stink Creek, which enters from the left. Dugout Creek enters from the left before the river passes under a footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
carrying a hiking trail running parallel to the stream. Crane Creek enters from the right at Crane Creek Campground. Further downstream, Sage Hen Gulch enters from the left.
Passing through a canyon downstream of Sage Hen Gulch, the river receives Skagway Creek from the left before turning southeast and receiving Bear Creek from the right before leaving Grant County and entering Harney County
Harney County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Malheur National Forest *Malheur National Wildlife Refuge*Ochoco National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,609 people, 3,036 households, and 2,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile...
. Beyond the county boundary Little Malheur River enters from the left. Continuing southeast, the North Fork leaves Harney County and enters Malheur County
Malheur County, Oregon
Malheur County is a county located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon. Most of the county observes the Mountain Time Zone, although the southern quarter of the county observes the Pacific Time Zone along with the...
. Castle Rock Creek enters from the left, and below this the river enters Beulah Reservoir.
As it leaves the reservoir, the river passes a stream gauge
Stream gauge
A stream gauge, stream gage or gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water surface elevation and/or volumetric discharge are generally taken and observations of biota may also be...
at Beulah
Beulah, Oregon
Beulah is an unincorporated community in Malheur County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located along the North Fork Malheur River near Beulah Reservoir, north of Juntura....
, 14.5 miles (23.3 km) from the mouth. South of the reservoir, Mud Springs and McClellan gulches enter from the right and Whitley Canyon from the left. Cottonwood and Halladay gulches then enter from the right. After entering Juntura Valley, the river receives Kingsbury Gulch from the right and Curry Canyon from the left. Flowing north of and roughly parallel to U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 in Oregon
U.S. Route 20 in Oregon is a major east–west cross-state highway, especially east of the Cascade Mountains. It connects U.S. Route 101 in Newport on the central Oregon Coast to the Idaho state line east of Nyssa.- Route description :...
in the valley, the river turns east as it reaches Juntura and empties into the Malheur River, a tributary of the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
.
The first 25.5 miles (41 km) of the river, from its headwaters to where it leaves the Malheur National Forest, has been protected since 1988 as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Of the river's total length of 59 miles (95 km), about 43 percent is Wild and Scenic.
Discharge
The United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
monitors the flow of the North Fork Malheur River. The average flow of the river at Beulah is 87.9 cuft/s. This is from a drainage area of 440 square miles (1,140 km²), 80 percent of the total North Fork watershed. The maximum flow recorded there was 7000 cuft/s on May 7, 1942, during a flood caused by failure of the gates
Floodgate
Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. They may be designed to set spillway crest heights in dams, to adjust flow rates in sluices and canals, or they may be designed to stop water flow entirely as part of a levee or...
at Agency Valley Dam. The minimum flow was 0 cuft/s on multiple occasions.
Recreation
The North Fork offers opportunities for camping, hiking, and fishing in a remote and scenic setting. North Fork Campground offers tent and trailer camping, and Crane Crossing Campground, which more remote, has tent camping. These campgrounds are primitive; although they have tables, toilets, and firerings, they have no drinkable water. North Fork Malheur Trail provides access to the 12.4 miles (20 km) of the river between Crane Crossing and the southern boundary of the Malheur National Forest.Further downstream, the Malheur County Parks Department maintains boating facilities at Beulah Reservoir on the North Fork of the Malheur River. These include a parking lot, boat ramp, and restroom, all near the dam, 15 miles (24.1 km) north of Juntura on a gravel road. Used mainly for irrigation storage, the lake fluctuates in size from season to season; it is generally high in the spring and low in the fall. At its maximum, the lake covers 1900 acres (768.9 ha).
The river is a productive trout stream. Redband trout
Redband trout
Redband trout is a fish name that may be a synonym for the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, but is also used more narrowly for inland subspecies with well-defined geographical distributions in the United States...
, rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, and bull trout
Bull trout
The bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus, is a char of the family Salmonidae native to northwestern North America. Historically, S. confluentus has been known as the "Dolly Varden" , but was re-classified as a separate species in 1980. Bull trout are listed as a threatened species under the U.S....
inhabit the river above Beulah Reservoir. Fishing is limited to artificial flies and lures, and bull trout, which are threatened
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
, must be released unharmed. The river downstream of the reservoir flows mostly through private ranchland, and access is restricted.
See also
- List of longest streams of Oregon
- List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers
- List of rivers of Oregon