Butte Creek (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Butte Creek is a stream
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
, a tributary of the Pudding River
. It is approximately 33 miles (53.1 km) long and, for all of its course, defines part of the northeastern boundary of Marion County
and the southern boundary of Clackamas County
.
designated as Santiam State Forest
in Butte Basin, about 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Gates
. Butte Basin contains Copper Lake and Butte Lakes at elevation 3533 feet (1,076.9 m). The stream meanders slightly northwest through steep mountainous and heavily forested terrain for about two-thirds of its length.
It receives Camp Creek from the right at river mile 32.9, then Fill Creek (right, RM 32.6). It turns due west for the next two miles (3 km) and parallels South Gawley Ridge to the north and receives Rhody Creek (left, RM 31.8) which drains Rhody Lake, then Fibre Creek (left, RM 31.3) which drains Fibre Lake. Shortly before resuming a northwesterly course, it receives South Fork (left, RM 30.7). At river mile 29.3 it receives a short unnamed creek from the right at about elevation 2450 feet (746.8 m). Butte Creek turns WSW for about a mile where it receives a two mile (3 km) long unnamed creek from the left (RM 27.2), Kirk Creek (left, RM 26.8), then turns directly northwest. About a half mile later it drops over Butte Creek Falls, elevation 1900 feet (579.1 m).
Over the next mile, it receives three small creeks all from the right including Looney Creek (RM 25.8). It passes over a gravel bar, then receives three small creeks in succession from the left in a fairly steep forest canyon. Afterward, the canyon widens somewhat, and a small creek which drains an agricultural plateau to the west enters from the left at RM 24.8, followed by Fall Creek (right, RM 23.9) where the canyon becomes a gentle valley. Between RM 20 and 21.3, the creek passes over a succession of sand or gravel bars, and at RM 19.5, the creek turns northward—except for a few small zigzags—for the next 4.5 miles (7.2 km). It receives Coal Creek (right, RM 17.5) by which time the creek is surrounded by moderately gentle, 1000 feet (304.8 m) hills.
Unnamed creeks enter at RM 16.6 (right), RM 16.3 (left), RM 16.1 (right), RM 15.9 (left), 15.7 (left), 15.6 (right), and 14.8 (right). By this point, the designated state forest is sparse islands and most of the land is agricultural or private forest. An unnamed creek (possibly named Crooked Finger Creek for a road which parallels it) enters at RM 13.2 (left) in an impoundment formed by a dam just east of Scotts Mills
.
Unnamed creeks enter at RM 10.8 (left) and RM 10.3 (left) near Jacks Bridge which carries Oregon Route 213 across Butte Creek at RM 10.2 and elevation 300 feet (91.4 m). For the rest of its course, the creek meanders gently in mild rolling terrain which has hills less than about 200 feet (61 m) high. A river gaging station in Monitor
is at RM 5.9. An unnamed creek enters from the right at RM 5.4, and the outlet of two reservoirs southeast of Woodburn
is carried by an aqueduct entering from the left at RM 2.8. Oregon Route 211 crosses at approximately RM 1.5. Butte Creek enters the Pudding River at the latter's RM 20.1. The Marion/Clackamas County line follows the Pudding River downstream until Arndt Road.
The mouth is about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Mt. Angel and 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Woodburn at 45.160768°N 122.773569°W.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, a tributary of the Pudding River
Pudding River
The Pudding River is a tributary of the Molalla River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its drainage basin covers . Among its tributaries is the Little Pudding River...
. It is approximately 33 miles (53.1 km) long and, for all of its course, defines part of the northeastern boundary of Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
and the southern boundary of Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
.
Course
Its source is a remote portion of the Cascade RangeCascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
designated as Santiam State Forest
Santiam State Forest
Santiam State Forest is one of six state forests managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry. The forest is located approximately southeast of Salem, Oregon, and includes on the western slope of the Cascade Mountains in three Oregon counties: Clackamas, Linn, and Marion. It is bounded on the...
in Butte Basin, about 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Gates
Gates, Oregon
Gates is a city on the border of Linn and Marion counties in Oregon, United States. The population was 471 at the 2000 census. The greater part of Gates' population is in Marion County and the city is primarily under Marion County's jurisdiction...
. Butte Basin contains Copper Lake and Butte Lakes at elevation 3533 feet (1,076.9 m). The stream meanders slightly northwest through steep mountainous and heavily forested terrain for about two-thirds of its length.
It receives Camp Creek from the right at river mile 32.9, then Fill Creek (right, RM 32.6). It turns due west for the next two miles (3 km) and parallels South Gawley Ridge to the north and receives Rhody Creek (left, RM 31.8) which drains Rhody Lake, then Fibre Creek (left, RM 31.3) which drains Fibre Lake. Shortly before resuming a northwesterly course, it receives South Fork (left, RM 30.7). At river mile 29.3 it receives a short unnamed creek from the right at about elevation 2450 feet (746.8 m). Butte Creek turns WSW for about a mile where it receives a two mile (3 km) long unnamed creek from the left (RM 27.2), Kirk Creek (left, RM 26.8), then turns directly northwest. About a half mile later it drops over Butte Creek Falls, elevation 1900 feet (579.1 m).
Over the next mile, it receives three small creeks all from the right including Looney Creek (RM 25.8). It passes over a gravel bar, then receives three small creeks in succession from the left in a fairly steep forest canyon. Afterward, the canyon widens somewhat, and a small creek which drains an agricultural plateau to the west enters from the left at RM 24.8, followed by Fall Creek (right, RM 23.9) where the canyon becomes a gentle valley. Between RM 20 and 21.3, the creek passes over a succession of sand or gravel bars, and at RM 19.5, the creek turns northward—except for a few small zigzags—for the next 4.5 miles (7.2 km). It receives Coal Creek (right, RM 17.5) by which time the creek is surrounded by moderately gentle, 1000 feet (304.8 m) hills.
Unnamed creeks enter at RM 16.6 (right), RM 16.3 (left), RM 16.1 (right), RM 15.9 (left), 15.7 (left), 15.6 (right), and 14.8 (right). By this point, the designated state forest is sparse islands and most of the land is agricultural or private forest. An unnamed creek (possibly named Crooked Finger Creek for a road which parallels it) enters at RM 13.2 (left) in an impoundment formed by a dam just east of Scotts Mills
Scotts Mills, Oregon
Scotts Mills is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. The population was 312 at the 2000 census. It is two miles south of Marquam and Oregon Route 213, between Silverton and Molalla.Scotts Mills is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Unnamed creeks enter at RM 10.8 (left) and RM 10.3 (left) near Jacks Bridge which carries Oregon Route 213 across Butte Creek at RM 10.2 and elevation 300 feet (91.4 m). For the rest of its course, the creek meanders gently in mild rolling terrain which has hills less than about 200 feet (61 m) high. A river gaging station in Monitor
Monitor, Oregon
Monitor, Oregon is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It is located approximately three miles northeast of the city of Mt. Angel, on Butte Creek in the Willamette Valley...
is at RM 5.9. An unnamed creek enters from the right at RM 5.4, and the outlet of two reservoirs southeast of Woodburn
Woodburn, Oregon
Woodburn is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 1889, the community had been platted in 1871 after the arrival of the railroad. The city is located in the northern end of the Willamette Valley along Interstate 5 between Portland and Salem...
is carried by an aqueduct entering from the left at RM 2.8. Oregon Route 211 crosses at approximately RM 1.5. Butte Creek enters the Pudding River at the latter's RM 20.1. The Marion/Clackamas County line follows the Pudding River downstream until Arndt Road.
The mouth is about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Mt. Angel and 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Woodburn at 45.160768°N 122.773569°W.