Red Rock River (Montana)
Encyclopedia
The Red Rock River is a roughly 70 miles (112.7 km) river in southwestern Montana
in the United States
. Its drainage basin
covers over 1548 mi2. 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 8800 feet (2,682.2 m). Brower's Spring is considered the farthest headwaters of the Missouri River
, one of the major watercourses of the central United States. Under a variety of different names the drainage flows north and west into the Red Rock Lakes in the middle of a wide grassy valley, and the Red Rock River issues from the west side of Lower Red Rock Lake. It flows west, receiving many tributaries such as Peet Creek and Long Creek, widening into the Lima Reservoir and then passing through a canyon, which ends near Lima, Montana
. From there, it flows northwest through a valley, passing Kidd and Red Rock, and into Clark Canyon Reservoir. Under the waters of the lake was once the confluence of the Red Rock and Horse Prairie Creek, which formed the Beaverhead River
, a tributary of the Jefferson River
, in turn a headwater of the Missouri River.
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,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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...
covers over 1548 mi2. Its farthest tributary, Hell Roaring Creek, originates in the Beaverhead National Forest near the Montana-Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
border at Brower's Spring
Brower's Spring
Brower's Spring is a spring in the Centennial Mountains of Montana that is believed to be the ultimate headwaters of the Missouri River.The spring is named for Jacob V. Brower who in 1896 declared it to be the source of the Missouri in The Missouri: Its Utmost Source...
, at an elevation of 8800 feet (2,682.2 m). Brower's Spring is considered the farthest 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...
, one of the major watercourses of the central United States. Under a variety of different names the drainage flows north and west into the Red Rock Lakes in the middle of a wide grassy valley, and the Red Rock River issues from the west side of Lower Red Rock Lake. It flows west, receiving many tributaries such as Peet Creek and Long Creek, widening into the Lima Reservoir and then passing through a canyon, which ends near Lima, Montana
Lima, Montana
Lima is a town in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States. The population was 242 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lima is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. From there, it flows northwest through a valley, passing Kidd and Red Rock, and into Clark Canyon Reservoir. Under the waters of the lake was once the confluence of the Red Rock and Horse Prairie Creek, which formed the Beaverhead River
Beaverhead River
The Beaverhead River is an approximately -long tributary of the Jefferson River in southwest Montana . It drains an area of roughly . 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...
, a tributary of the Jefferson River
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 turn a headwater of the Missouri River.
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.