Satsop River

Last updated
Satsop River
WEST FORK OF THE SATSOP RIVER IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL TIMBERLAND, WASHINGTON. NEAR OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK - NARA - 555218.jpg
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of the mouth of the Satsop River in Washington
Location
Country United States
State Washington
County Grays Harbor
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of East and West Forks
 • coordinates 47°2′11″N123°31′38″W / 47.03639°N 123.52722°W / 47.03639; -123.52722 [1]
Mouth Chehalis River
 • coordinates
 46°58′44″N123°28′53″W / 46.97889°N 123.48139°W / 46.97889; -123.48139 [1]
 • elevation
23 ft (7.0 m) [1]
Length6.5 mi (10.5 km) [2]
Basin size291 sq mi (750 km2) [3]
Discharge 
 • location river mile 2.3 near Satsop, WA [4]
 • average2,039 cu ft/s (57.7 m3/s) [4]
 • minimum147 cu ft/s (4.2 m3/s)
 • maximum51,800 cu ft/s (1,470 m3/s)

The Satsop River is a stream in the U.S. state of Washington. It has three main tributary forks, the East Fork, West Fork, and Middle Fork Satsop Rivers. The main stem Satsop River is formed by the confluence of the West and East Forks. The Middle Fork is a tributary of the East Fork. The three forks are much longer than the main stem Satsop itself, which flows south from the confluence only a few miles to join the Chehalis River near Satsop, Washington. Other significant tributaries include the Canyon River and Little River, both tributaries of the West Fork Satsop, and Decker Creek, a tributary of the East Fork Satsop River. The Satsop River's major tributaries originate in the Olympic Mountains and its southern foothills, the Satsop Hills, within Grays Harbor and Mason counties. Most of the Satsop River's watershed consists of heavily wooded hill lands. The upper tributaries extend into Olympic National Forest, approaching but not quite reaching Olympic National Park.

Contents

The Satsop River watershed is located east of the Wynoochee River and south of the Skokomish River watersheds.

Course

The main stem Satsop River originates at the confluence of the East and West Forks and flows generally south to Satsop, where it empties into Chehalis River at Chehalis river mile 20.2. U.S. Route 12 crosses the river near its mouth. The main stem river flows through a broad valley used for farming. [3] [5]

U.S. Route 12 bridges over the Satsop River Satsop River Bridges, looking east (2016).jpg
U.S. Route 12 bridges over the Satsop River

The river has several significant tributaries, including the West, East, and Middle Forks. These forks are significant rivers in their own right and unite only a few miles north of the Chehalis River. The forks are all much longer than the main stem Satsop River.

The West Fork Satsop River rises in the southern Olympic Mountains. It flows south through a narrow gorge. In its final miles the river valley broadens. At 44 miles (71 km) long, the West Fork is the longest tributary. The total river length from the West Fork's source to the mouth of the main stem Satsop River is approximately 50.5 miles (81.3 km). The length from the source of the Canyon River is nearly as long, at 48.5 miles (78.1 km). [6] Its watershed is 154 square miles (400 km2) large. Much of the watershed is privately owned timber lands. [3] [7] The West Fork has two major tributaries, the 20-mile (32 km) long Canyon River and the 6-mile (9.7 km) long Little River. [6] The Canyon River, West Fork, and Middle Fork all originate close to one another in the Olympic Mountains. The Canyon River's source is approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) east of the source of the West Fork and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) west of the source of the Middle Fork. [8] [9] These rivers originate in the southern Olympic Mountains in the general vicinity of Chapel Peak, Dusk Point, and Anderson Butte. [10] [11] [12]

The East Fork Satsop River originates at the confluence of Phillips Creek and Stillwater Creek. It flows generally southwest through a broad and flat valley. Bingham Creek is its main tributary, joining from the north. [3] Below Bingham Creek the East Fork flows through Carstairs Prairie before being joined by Decker Creek and the Middle Fork Satsop River, both from the north. [13] The East Fork is approximately 21 miles (34 km) long. Its headwater tributary, Stillwater Creek, is 3 miles (4.8 km) long. [6] [14]

The Middle Fork Satsop River rises in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains and flows south, passing through steep gorges and canyons. At 35 miles (56 km) long it is the second longest tributary. [6] Shortly below the Middle Fork's confluence with Baker Creek its valley widens as the river approaches its confluence with the East Fork Satsop River. [15] Most of the watershed of the Middle Fork is second-growth forest used for timber production. [3]

Decker Creek flows through broad prairie lands and gently sloping valleys. It joins the East Fork Satsop River upstream from the Middle Fork confluence. [3] [16] Decker Creek is approximately 16 miles (26 km) long. [6]

Land use

Land ownership within the Satsop River's watershed, approximately, is 62% corporate (182 sq mi (470 km2)), 18% National Forest (52 sq mi (130 km2)), 13% private (37 sq mi (96 km2)), 6% state (19 sq mi (49 km2)), and less than 1% municipal and county (0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)). [3]

Commercial forests, including National Forest lands, make up about 95% of the land use in the Satsop watershed. Cropland and pasture account for about 3%. Built-up areas, rural non-farms, and barren lands account for slightly over 1%. [3]

History

The Satsop River's name comes from Upper Chehalis /sácapš/, literally "made stream", from /sáʔa–/, "make, do", plus /cápš/, "stream". [17] The Satsop Native Americans, who lived along the river, were neighbors of the Lower Chehalis, Humptulip, and the Hoquiam peoples, with whom they shared a similar political organization. The relation of the Satsops to other Native Americans remains unclear. Some ethnologists classify the Satsops as a subdivision of the Lower Chehalis people while others place them closer to the Upper Chehalis (Kwaiailk) people, in part because the Satsop Coast Salish dialect appears most closely related to the Upper Chehalis dialect. The Upper and Lower Chehalis dialects are distinct and the boundary between them was at the confluence of the Chehalis and Satsop Rivers. A trail ran through the Satsop lands over which trade passed south to Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. The Satsops were devastated by smallpox and other epidemics, after which a remnant population moved from their ancestral lands along the Satsop River to the Chehalis Reservation. The Satsop population was listed as 350 in 1870 and only 12 in 1885. There is no Satsop tribe today. [18]

John Rady became the first settler on the Satsop River in 1852. [19] French Canadians and Germans began to settle in the Satsop Valley in the 1860s and 1870s. The Schafer family was among the early settlers, having moved to the region from Wisconsin. Three of the Schafer brothers, sons of the pioneering family, founded one of the biggest and most successful logging companies of the area. From a start using an oxteam to haul logs the Schafer's company grew to own large tracts of timberland served by miles of logging railroads. [20]

Under the Chehalis Basin Strategy, the Satsop River received $3.0 million in funding beginning in 2023 to improve approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) of the waterway near Satsop and the Chehalis River conjunction. The plans include the elimination of excess erosion, some due to previous control attempts, as well the reintroduction of riparian habitats. Over 30 logjam jacks are to be installed along with 350 acres (140 ha) of ecosystem improvements. The project, planned to be completed in 2028, is meant to also increase the biome for salmon and other aquatic species while helping mitigate flood concerns in the area. [21]

Natural history

The Satsop River is one of the larger tributaries of the Chehalis River, especially in the summer. In August, approximately 30% of the Chehalis River's flow at Cosmopolis comes from the Satsop River. [3]

The Satsop and its tributaries support a variety of migratory fish, including chinook, chum, and coho salmon. The Middle Fork Satsop River in particular supports very large runs of all three species. The West Fork Satsop also supports sizable runs of all three species. Other tributaries important for salmon spawning include Decker Creek, Canyon River, and the Little River. [3]

A number of projects have been undertaken to improve salmon habitat in the Satsop watershed, including the construction of spawning channels and fish hatcheries. [3]

Forestry

Clearcutting in the Satsop River drainage system, 1973 CLEAR-CUT AREA ON THE SATSOP RIVER DRAINAGE SYSTEM, LOOKING TO THE SOUTHWEST IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL TIMBERLAND... - NARA - 555104.jpg
Clearcutting in the Satsop River drainage system, 1973

The Satsop River's watershed is prime timber land and much of it is privately owned and regularly harvested. Approximately 70% of the watershed's forests are less than 35 years old. The timber harvesting combined with the region's steep slopes presents erosion and mass wasting hazards. In addition there is a relatively high density of roads, mostly for logging, which increases the erosion and sedimentation risks. Rainfall in the region ranges from 70 to 175 inches per year, which further increases the danger of destructive erosion. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruneau River</span> River in Idaho and Nevada, United States

The Bruneau River is a 153-mile-long (246 km) tributary of the Snake River in the western United States, located in Idaho and Nevada. It runs through a narrow canyon cut into ancient lava flows in southwestern Idaho. The Bruneau Canyon, which is up to 1,200 feet (370 m) deep and forty miles (65 km) long, features rapids and hot springs, making it a popular whitewater trip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salmon River (Idaho)</span> River in Idaho, United States

The Salmon River, also known as the "River of No Return", is a river located in the U.S. state of Idaho in the western United States. It flows for 425 miles (685 km) through central Idaho, draining a rugged, thinly populated watershed of 14,000 square miles (36,000 km2). The river drops more than 7,000 feet (2,100 m) from its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, to its confluence with the Snake River. Measured at White Bird, its average discharge is 11,060 cubic feet per second. The Salmon River is the longest undammed river in the contiguous United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newaukum River</span> River in Washington, United States

The Newaukum River is a tributary of the Chehalis River in the U.S. state of Washington. It has three main branches, the North Fork, South Fork, and Middle Fork Newaukum Rivers. The length of the three forks and the mainstem river is 56.7 miles (91.2 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feather River</span> River in California, United States

The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about 73 miles (117 km) long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is just over 210 miles (340 km). The main stem Feather River begins in Lake Oroville, where its four long tributary forks join—the South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork, and West Branch Feather Rivers. These and other tributaries drain part of the northern Sierra Nevada, and the extreme southern Cascades, as well as a small portion of the Sacramento Valley. The total drainage basin is about 6,200 square miles (16,000 km2), with approximately 3,604 square miles (9,330 km2) above Lake Oroville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skykomish River</span> River in northwest Washington, United States

The Skykomish River is a 29-mile (47 km) long river in the U.S. state of Washington which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one mile west of Index, then flowing northwesterly towards Puget Sound. It is joined by the Sultan River and the Wallace River at Sultan. It then meets the Snoqualmie River to form the Snohomish River at Monroe. The Snohomish River continues along the river valley eventually dumping into Port Gardner Bay on Possession Sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cosumnes River</span> River in northern California, United States

The Cosumnes River is a river in northern California in the United States. It rises on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and flows approximately 52.5 miles (84.5 km) into the Central Valley, emptying into the Mokelumne River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry Creek (Tuolumne River tributary)</span> River in California, United States

Cherry Creek is a large, swift-flowing stream in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and is the largest tributary of the Tuolumne River. The creek is 44.6 miles (71.8 km) long measured to its farthest headwaters; the main stem itself is 27.7 miles (44.6 km) long, draining a watershed of 234 square miles (610 km2) in the Stanislaus National Forest. Part of the drainage also extends into the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sol Duc River</span> River in Washington, United States

The Sol Duc River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About 78 miles (126 km) long, it flows west through the northwest part of the Olympic Peninsula, from the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through the broad Sol Duc Valley. Near the Pacific Ocean the Sol Duc River joins the Bogachiel River, forming the Quillayute River, which flows about 4 miles (6.4 km) to the Pacific Ocean at La Push. Although the Quillayute River is short, its large tributary rivers—the Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, and Dickey Rivers—drain the largest watershed of the northern Olympic Peninsula, 629 square miles (1,630 km2). The Sol Duc's watershed is the largest of the Quillayute's tributaries, at 219 square miles (570 km2).

The Palix River is a stream in the U.S. state of Washington. Its tributaries include three forks, North, Middle, and South Fork Palix River, as well as the Canon River. The river's length, including the Canon River, its longest tributary, is approximately 14 miles (23 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Fork Eel River</span> River in north-central California

The South Fork Eel River is the largest tributary of the Eel River in north-central California in the United States. The river flows 105 miles (169 km) north from Laytonville to Dyerville/Founders' Grove where it joins the Eel River. The South Fork drains a long and narrow portion of the Coast Range of California in parts of Mendocino and Humboldt counties. U.S. Route 101 follows the river for much of its length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoquiam River</span> River in Washington, United States

The Hoquiam River is a stream in the U.S. state of Washington. It has three main tributaries, the East Fork, West Fork, and Middle Fork Hoquiam Rivers. The main stem Hoquiam River is formed by the confluence of the West and East Forks. The Middle Fork is a tributary of the West Fork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Fork Trinity River</span> River in California, United States

The South Fork Trinity River is the main tributary of the Trinity River, in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. It is part of the Klamath River drainage basin. It flows generally northwest from its source in the Klamath Mountains, 92 miles (148 km) through Humboldt and Trinity Counties, to join the Trinity near Salyer. The main tributaries are Hayfork Creek and the East Fork South Fork Trinity River. The river has no major dams or diversions, and is designated Wild and Scenic for its entire length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Fork Clearwater River</span> River in Idaho, United States

The North Fork Clearwater River is a major tributary of the Clearwater River in the U.S. state of Idaho. From its headwaters in the Bitterroot Mountains of eastern Idaho, it flows 135 miles (217 km) westward and is dammed by the Dworshak Dam just above its mouth in north-central Idaho. Draining a rugged watershed of 2,462 square miles (6,380 km2), the river has an average flow of over 5,600 cubic feet per second (160 m3/s), accounting for a third of the discharge from the Clearwater basin. The river drains parts of Clearwater, Shoshone, Latah, and Idaho counties. Most of the watershed is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Some of the fish of the river include westslope cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, and the threatened bull trout. It also has smallmouth bass and a kokanee salmon run, both from Dworshak Reservoir. The North Fork drainage is home to grizzly bears, cougars, deer, moose, black bear, elk, grey wolves, and osprey. The river used to have a large steelhead run before the implementation of Dworshak Dam. The North Fork of the Clearwater is located within the Clearwater National Forest

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salmon Falls Creek</span> River in Nevada and Idaho, United States

Salmon Falls Creek is a tributary of the Snake River, flowing from northern Nevada into Idaho in the United States. Formed in high mountains at the northern edge of the Great Basin, Salmon Falls Creek flows northwards 121 miles (195 km), draining an arid and mountainous basin of 2,103 square miles (5,450 km2). The Salmon Falls Creek valley served as a trade route between the Native American groups of the Snake River Plain and Great Basin. Today, most of its water is used for irrigation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jemez River</span> River in New Mexico, United States

The Jemez River is a tributary of the Rio Grande in eastern Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Fork Coquille River</span> River in Oregon, United States

The South Fork Coquille River is the longest tributary of the Coquille River in coastal Oregon in the United States. From its headwaters in the Southern Oregon Coast Range, the river flows northwest to join the North Fork Coquille River at Myrtle Point, forming the main stem Coquille. The South Fork is about 63 miles (101 km) long, and its watershed drains roughly 288 square miles (750 km2) of rural Coos County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Fork Kings River</span> River in California, United States

The South Fork Kings River is a 44.1-mile (71.0 km) tributary of the Kings River in the Sierra Nevada of Fresno County, California. The river forms part of Kings Canyon, the namesake of Kings Canyon National Park and one of the deepest canyons in North America with a maximum relief of 8,200 feet (2,500 m) from rim to river.

Copper Creek is a southern tributary of the Klamath River in the U.S. state of California. Arising in the Klamath Mountains, the creek drains a narrow watershed of about 120 square miles (310 km2). Historically, Copper Creek was the site of at least one Hupa Native American village, then was extensively mined for gold in the 1850s. The origin of the name comes from the peach-colored cliffs that line the lower few miles of the canyon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cottonwood Creek (Sacramento River tributary)</span> River in Shasta County, United States

Cottonwood Creek is a major stream and tributary of the Sacramento River in Northern California. About 68 miles (109 km) long measured to its uppermost tributaries, the creek drains a large rural area bounded by the crest of the Coast Ranges, traversing the northwestern Sacramento Valley before emptying into the Sacramento River near the town of Cottonwood. It defines the boundary of Shasta and Tehama counties for its entire length. Because Cottonwood Creek is the largest undammed tributary of the Sacramento River, it is known for its Chinook salmon and steelhead runs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle Fork Coquille River</span> River in Oregon, United States

The Middle Fork Coquille River is a tributary, about 40 miles (64 km) long, of the South Fork Coquille River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins near Camas Mountain in Douglas County in the Southern Oregon Coast Range. It flows generally south, bypassing the community of Camas Valley while passing through the valley of the same name, then curves west and north to Remote in Coos County. The Middle Fork then flows generally west, passes by the small community of Bridge, and meets the South Fork near Myrtle Point. The confluence with the South Fork is 41 miles (66 km) by water to where the main stem of the Coquille River enters the Pacific Ocean at Bandon.

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Satsop River
  2. ↑ Calculated in Google Earth; length of main stem Satsop only; length including West Fork Satsop, the longest tributary, is 50.5 mi (81.3 km).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Chehalis River Basin Nonpoint Action Plan - satsop River". Chehalis River Council. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  4. 1 2 "Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005; Chehalis and Humptulips River Basins; 12035000 Satsop River near Satsop, WA" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  5. ↑ General course info from USGS topographic maps accessed via the "GNIS in Google Map" feature of the USGS Geographic Names Information System website.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Calculated in Google Earth
  7. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Fork Satsop River
  8. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Canyon River
  9. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Little River
  10. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chapel Peak
  11. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dusk Point
  12. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Anderson Butte
  13. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Fork Satsop River
  14. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Stillwater Creek
  15. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middle Fork Satsop River
  16. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Decker Creek
  17. ↑ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 422. ISBN   978-0-8061-3598-4 . Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  18. ↑ Ruby, Robert H.; John Arthur Brown (1992). A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 101, 105, 185. ISBN   978-0-8061-2479-7.
  19. ↑ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 68. ISBN   978-0-918664-00-6.
  20. ↑ Kirk, Ruth; Carmela Alexander (1990). Exploring Washington's Past: A Road Guide to History. University of Washington Press. p. 458. ISBN   0-295-97443-5.
  21. ↑ The Chronicle staff (August 23, 2024). "Chehalis Basin Strategy progress in review: Working together to restore nearly 5 miles of the lower Satsop River for salmon, steelhead and local communities". The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington) . Retrieved September 9, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.