Carrizozo Creek

Last updated
Carrizozo Creek
Location
Country United States
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationNortheast of Grenville, New Mexico
Mouth  
  location
West of Kenton, Oklahoma
  coordinates
36°54′23″N102°59′11″W / 36.90625°N 102.98646°W / 36.90625; -102.98646 Coordinates: 36°54′23″N102°59′11″W / 36.90625°N 102.98646°W / 36.90625; -102.98646

Carrizozo Creek is a watercourse in the northeast corner of New Mexico, with a small portion extending into the northwestern Oklahoma Panhandle. [1] [2] The creek originates northwest of Clayton Lake State Park and northeast of Grenville, New Mexico about halfway to the Colorado border, being just north of Corrumpa Creek and just west of New Mexico State Road 370. [2] It meanders generally east-northeast into Oklahoma, loops northwest heading back into New Mexico, and then turns generally east flowing into Oklahoma again. [2] Where Carrizozo Creek and the Dry Cimarron River come together in Cimarron County, Oklahoma west of Kenton, the Cimarron River is formed. [3] [4]

Despite the name, this creek is nowhere near the town of Carrizozo, New Mexico, which is hundreds of miles to the southwest. [5] Nor should it be confused with New Mexico’s Carrizo Creek, which is dozens of miles south of it. [6] Carrizozo Creek should also not be confused with North Carrizo Creek or South Carrizo Creek, each of which separately join the Cimarron River in Oklahoma, but further to the east. [7] [8]

The creek passes through several named canyons in New Mexico, including Road Canyon, Dry Canyon, Black Canyon and Carl Canyon. [2]

See also

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South Carrizo Creek forms either just west of the Oklahoma line in New Mexico, or east inside Oklahoma to the northwest of Wheeless, Oklahoma. It is intermittent. It travels generally northeast through Black Mesa State Park where it is impounded to form Lake Carl Etling, before being joined by Willow Creek and continuing northeast to flow into the Cimarron River.

North Carrizo Creek forms in Baca County, Colorado at the confluence of East Carrizo Creek and West Carrizo Creek, at a point about 6 miles north of the Preston Monument, the tripoint of Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico. North Carrizo Creek then flows generally south-southeast into Oklahoma to join the Cimarron River northeast of Kenton, Oklahoma.

East Carrizo Creek rises in Las Animas County, Colorado north of Mt. Carrizo and east of Kim, Colorado, and flows generally southeast before turning south. It joins with West Carrizo Creek at a point about 6 miles north of the Preston Monument to form North Carrizo Creek. North Carrizo Creek then flows generally south-southeast into Oklahoma to join the Cimarron River northeast of Kenton, Oklahoma.

West Carrizo Creek forms in Las Animas County, Colorado west-southwest of Kim, Colorado and flows generally east. It connects with East Carrizo Creek, which forms in Colorado north of Mt. Carrizo and east of Kim, and which flows generally southeast before turning south, to form North Carrizo Creek at a point about six miles north of the Preston Monument, the tripoint of Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

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Seneca Creek, also known as Cienequilla Creek, is a watercourse in New Mexico and Oklahoma. Running south of, and roughly parallel to, Corrumpa Creek, it originates south-southeast of Des Moines, New Mexico and east-northeast of Grenville, and travels generally east, eventually crossing into Oklahoma. Where it finally joins Corrumpa Creek about 4.5 miles northwest of Felt, Oklahoma, the combined stream becomes the Beaver River.

Kiowa Creek is a stream in Comanche County, Kansas. Its watershed includes multiple other streams. West Kiowa Creek forms in northeast Clark County, Kansas and flows generally southeast, passing through the southwestern corner of Kiowa County, Kansas where it is joined by Turkey Creek and Little Turkey Creek. It continues into Comanche County, where it is joined by Middle Kiowa Creek, a southerly-flowing stream originating in Kiowa County to the north. The combined stream flows generally south, and becomes simply Kiowa Creek at some point. It is later joined by East Kiowa Creek, also a southerly-flowing stream originating in Kiowa County to the north, and one having its own tributary, Wiggins Creek. Kiowa Creek continues generally south, and travels along the eastern border of the town of Protection, Kansas, before becoming a tributary of Cavalry Creek to the southeast of Protection. Cavalry Creeks feeds into Bluff Creek, which eventually becomes a tributary of the Cimarron River before that watercourse enters Oklahoma.

References

  1. "Carrizozo Creek". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Carrizozo Creek". Natural Atlas. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  3. "Carrizozo Creek, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  4. "Carrizozo Creek in Cimarron County, Oklahoma". HomeTownLocator. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  5. "Carrizozo, New Mexico to Carrizozo Creek". Google Maps. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  6. "Carrizozo Creek, Oklahoma to Carrizo Creek New Mexico". Google Maps. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  7. "North Carrizo Creek, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  8. "South Carrizo Creek, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved August 18, 2021.