Stony Creek (Sacramento River)
Encyclopedia
Stony Creek is a moderate sized river in north-central California
in the United States
, and is a tributary of the Sacramento River
. It is 65.6 miles (105.6 km) long and its watershed encompasses 773 mi2. The stream rises in the eastern foothills of the California Coast Ranges and flows generally northeast to where it drains into the Sacramento near Hamilton City
, in the middle of the Sacramento Valley
. The average discharge of the creek, about 400 cuft/s, ranges from between 50 cuft/s in drought to 1000 cuft/s in wet years. The maximum discharge was 39900 cuft/s on February 24, 1957.
. All three forks flow within the Mendocino National Forest
. The North Fork, about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long, rises near St. John Mountain and travels in a southeasterly direction. The Middle Fork rises on the west flank of Snow Mountain and arcs around eastwards, flowing for about 8 miles (12.9 km). The South Fork, some 6.5 miles (10.5 km) long, begins near Goat Mountain and flows first northwest then northeast to the confluence of the three forks where the main stem of Stony Creek begins.
Stony Creek flows swiftly eastwards out of the mountains, into Indian Valley, turning north at Stonyford. It receives Little Stony Creek from the right as it passes between a pair of low ridges. The creek then widens into long, narrow Stony Gorge Reservoir, which is formed by the Stony Gorge Dam. It continues north past the town of Elk Creek
, where it receives a tributary of the same name from the left. Flowing between California State Route 162 and a low eastern ridge of the Coast Ranges, it then receives Grindstone Creek, its main tributary, near Grindstone Rancheria.
The two rivers flow into each other almost in opposite directions; the waters then flow northeastwards, through a broad shallow valley of the Coast Range foothills. Stony Creek then enters Black Butte Lake
, a large reservoir formed by the earthen Black Butte Dam. The intermittent North Fork Stony Creek (not to be confused with the headstream further south) joins Stony Creek in the reservoir. After exiting the dam Stony Creek flows southeast into the Sacramento Valley. It passes under Interstate 5
and about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Orland
. Large amounts of water are diverted from it to irrigate the many farms along its course. Near Hamilton City
most of its remaining flow is diverted into the Glenn-Colusa Canal. The remnants of the creek continue southeast to join the Sacramento some 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Chico
.
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is a tributary of the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
. It is 65.6 miles (105.6 km) long and its watershed encompasses 773 mi2. The stream rises in the eastern foothills of the California Coast Ranges and flows generally northeast to where it drains into the Sacramento near Hamilton City
Hamilton City, California
Hamilton City is a census-designated place in Glenn County, California, United States. The population was 1,759 at the 2010 census, down from 1,903 at the 2000 census. Hamilton City is located east of Orland, and 10 miles west of Chico at an elevation of 151 feet . The default numbers used for...
, in the middle of the Sacramento Valley
Sacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
. The average discharge of the creek, about 400 cuft/s, ranges from between 50 cuft/s in drought to 1000 cuft/s in wet years. The maximum discharge was 39900 cuft/s on February 24, 1957.
Course
It rises at the confluence of its North, Middle and South Forks in the eastern Coast Ranges, about 5 miles (8 km) west of the town of StonyfordStonyford, California
Stonyford is a census-designated place in Colusa County, California. It lies at an elevation of 1184 feet . Its zip code is 95979 and its area code is 530. Stonyford's population was 149 at the 2010 census.-Demographics:...
. All three forks flow within the Mendocino National Forest
Mendocino National Forest
The Mendocino National Forest is located in the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California and comprises 913,306 acres...
. The North Fork, about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long, rises near St. John Mountain and travels in a southeasterly direction. The Middle Fork rises on the west flank of Snow Mountain and arcs around eastwards, flowing for about 8 miles (12.9 km). The South Fork, some 6.5 miles (10.5 km) long, begins near Goat Mountain and flows first northwest then northeast to the confluence of the three forks where the main stem of Stony Creek begins.
Stony Creek flows swiftly eastwards out of the mountains, into Indian Valley, turning north at Stonyford. It receives Little Stony Creek from the right as it passes between a pair of low ridges. The creek then widens into long, narrow Stony Gorge Reservoir, which is formed by the Stony Gorge Dam. It continues north past the town of Elk Creek
Elk Creek, California
Elk Creek is a census-designated place in Glenn County, California. It is located northwest of Willows, at an elevation of 745 feet .The 2010 census reported that Elk Creek's population was 163. It is home to the smallest public high school in California, which has an enrollment of about 35...
, where it receives a tributary of the same name from the left. Flowing between California State Route 162 and a low eastern ridge of the Coast Ranges, it then receives Grindstone Creek, its main tributary, near Grindstone Rancheria.
The two rivers flow into each other almost in opposite directions; the waters then flow northeastwards, through a broad shallow valley of the Coast Range foothills. Stony Creek then enters Black Butte Lake
Black Butte Lake
Black Butte Lake is an artificial lake located in Tehama and Glenn Counties, California, USA. The lake was formed from Stony Creek in 1963 upon the completion of Black Butte Dam by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dam is located approximately west of Orland. At full pool, the lake is long...
, a large reservoir formed by the earthen Black Butte Dam. The intermittent North Fork Stony Creek (not to be confused with the headstream further south) joins Stony Creek in the reservoir. After exiting the dam Stony Creek flows southeast into the Sacramento Valley. It passes under Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
and about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Orland
Orland, California
Orland is a city in Glenn County, California. The population was 7,291 at the 2010 census, up from 6,281 at the 2000 census, making Orland the most populous city in Glenn County. Orland is located north of Willows, at an elevation of 259 feet . Interstate 5, passes west of the downtown area while...
. Large amounts of water are diverted from it to irrigate the many farms along its course. Near Hamilton City
Hamilton City, California
Hamilton City is a census-designated place in Glenn County, California, United States. The population was 1,759 at the 2010 census, down from 1,903 at the 2000 census. Hamilton City is located east of Orland, and 10 miles west of Chico at an elevation of 151 feet . The default numbers used for...
most of its remaining flow is diverted into the Glenn-Colusa Canal. The remnants of the creek continue southeast to join the Sacramento some 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
.