Puerco River
Encyclopedia
The Puerco River in northwestern New Mexico
and northeastern Arizona
flows through arid terrain including the Painted Desert
. The main tributary of the Little Colorado River
, it drains an area of about 2654 mi2 and is 167 miles (268.8 km) long. The river's average discharge is very low, less than 70 cuft/s in normal years, because its drainage basin
is extremely dry. For most of the year, the river is a braided wash
containing little or no water, although large flash flood
s can occur in downpours. Navajos
in the Puerco River valley have used surface waters in the river for livestock watering for decades.
, New Mexico
. It flows first north then west through a wide, barren desert valley bordered by high rocky buttes and cliffs. It intersects Interstate 40
and receives the South Fork Puerco River from the left near Gallup
. For most of its remaining course, the interstate and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad follow the river's valley. The Puerco then crosses into Arizona
and passes Houck
, Sanders
and Chambers
, then flows through the middle of Petrified Forest National Park
, where Lithodendron Wash enters from the right. The river then flows southwest to its confluence with the Little Colorado River, near Holbrook
.
(USGS) operates a Puerco River stream gauge
1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of Chambers, Arizona. The maximum discharge recorded by this gauge between 1971 and 2009 was 17800 cuft/s on Sept. 30, 1971, and the minimum discharge was often zero from a drainage basin of 2156 square miles (5,584 km²).
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and northeastern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
flows through arid terrain including the Painted Desert
Painted Desert, Arizona
The Painted Desert is a area of badlands located in Northern Arizona in the United States. The Arizona desert stretches from the Grand Canyon National Park into the Petrified Forest National Park and runs roughly astride and just north of the Little Colorado and the Puerco Rivers...
. The main tributary of the Little Colorado River
Little Colorado River
The Little Colorado River is a river in the U.S. state of Arizona, providing the principal drainage from the Painted Desert region. Together with its major tributary, the Puerco River, it drains an area of about in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico...
, it drains an area of about 2654 mi2 and is 167 miles (268.8 km) long. The river's average discharge is very low, less than 70 cuft/s in normal years, because its drainage basin
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...
is extremely dry. For most of the year, the river is a braided wash
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
containing little or no water, although large flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
s can occur in downpours. Navajos
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
in the Puerco River valley have used surface waters in the river for livestock watering for decades.
Course
The river rises on the slopes of the Continental Divide of the Americas a half-mile east of Hosta Butte in McKinley CountyMcKinley County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*15.2% White*0.5% Black*75.5% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*4.6% Other races*13.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. It flows first north then west through a wide, barren desert valley bordered by high rocky buttes and cliffs. It intersects Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
and receives the South Fork Puerco River from the left near Gallup
Gallup, New Mexico
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 20,209 people, 6,810 households, and 4,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,513.7 people per square mile...
. For most of its remaining course, the interstate and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad follow the river's valley. The Puerco then crosses into Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and passes Houck
Houck, Arizona
Houck is a census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,087 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Houck is located at ....
, Sanders
Sanders, Arizona
Sanders is an unincorporated community in Apache County, Arizona, United States. Sanders is located at the junction of US 191 and Interstate 40, within the Navajo Nation....
and Chambers
Chambers, Arizona
Chambers is an unincorporated community in Apache County, Arizona, United States. Chambers is located at the junction of Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 191 northeast of Holbrook. Chambers has a post office with ZIP code 86502....
, then flows through the middle of Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park is a United States national park in Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. The park's headquarters are about east of Holbrook along Interstate 40 , which parallels a railroad line, the Puerco River, and historic U.S. Route 66, all crossing the park...
, where Lithodendron Wash enters from the right. The river then flows southwest to its confluence with the Little Colorado River, near Holbrook
Holbrook, Arizona
-Historical events:*During 1881 & 1882, railroad tracks were laid down and a railroad station was built. The community was then named Holbrook after the first engineer of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad...
.
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,...
(USGS) operates a Puerco River 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...
1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of Chambers, Arizona. The maximum discharge recorded by this gauge between 1971 and 2009 was 17800 cuft/s on Sept. 30, 1971, and the minimum discharge was often zero from a drainage basin of 2156 square miles (5,584 km²).
Radioactive spill
In one of the worst radioactive spills in the U.S. history, on July 16, 1979, 100 million gallons (380,000 m3) of radioactive water containing uranium tailings breached into the North Fork of the Puerco River from a tailing pond of a uranium mine owned by Kerr-McGee Company and United Nuclear Corporation. Approximately 1100 short tons (997.9 MT) of uranium mine waste contaminated 250 acres (101.2 ha) of land and up to 50 miles (80.5 km) of the Puerco River.See also
- Petrified Forest National ParkPetrified Forest National ParkPetrified Forest National Park is a United States national park in Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. The park's headquarters are about east of Holbrook along Interstate 40 , which parallels a railroad line, the Puerco River, and historic U.S. Route 66, all crossing the park...
- List of rivers of Arizona
- List of rivers of New Mexico
- Colorado RiverColorado RiverThe Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
- List of tributaries of the Colorado River