Nespelem River

Last updated
Nespelem River
Location
Country United States
State Washington
City Nespelem
Physical characteristics
Source 
  coordinates 48°21′5″N118°55′48″W / 48.35139°N 118.93000°W / 48.35139; -118.93000 [1]
  elevation3,850 ft (1,170 m) [2]
Mouth Columbia River
  coordinates
48°7′40″N119°2′34″W / 48.12778°N 119.04278°W / 48.12778; -119.04278 Coordinates: 48°7′40″N119°2′34″W / 48.12778°N 119.04278°W / 48.12778; -119.04278 [1]
  elevation
961 ft (293 m) [2]
Basin size224 sq mi (580 km2) [3]
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftLittle Nespelem River

The Nespelem River is a northern tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is completely contained within Okanogan County and the Colville Indian Reservation.

Contents

The name "Nespelem" is said to come from the Indian word nesilim, meaning "flat land". [4]

Course

The Nespelem River originates in eastern Okanogan County and flows south. It collects several minor tributaries including Stepstone Creek, North Star Creek, and Armstrong Creek, before passing by the town of Nespelem, Washington, the headquarters of the Colville Indian Reservation.

Below the town, the Nespelem River turns west. The Little Nespelem River joins just before the river empties into the Columbia River. This reach of the Columbia River is several miles below Grand Coulee Dam and many miles above Chief Joseph Dam. The impounded Columbia River behind Chief Joseph Dam, into which the Nespelem River flows, is called Rufus Woods Lake.

See also

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Bridgeport State Park is a public recreation area located two miles east of Bridgeport, Washington, on the north shore of Rufus Woods Lake, the Columbia River reservoir created by the Chief Joseph Dam. The state park was built through a partnership between Washington State Parks and the Army Corps of Engineers after completion of the dam in 1955. The park's 25-year lease was renewed in 1990 and again in 2015. The park covers 622 acres (252 ha) which include 7,500 feet (2,300 m) of shoreline, camping areas, four miles (6.4 km) of hiking trails, and facilities for boating, fishing, swimming, and golf.

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nespelem River, USGS, GNIS
  2. 1 2 Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
  3. Lake Rufus Woods Archived 2007-07-13 at the Wayback Machine , Intermountain Province Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
  4. Phillips, James W. (1971). Washington State Place Names . University of Washington Press. ISBN   0-295-95158-3.