Chemehuevi Wash
Encyclopedia
The Chemehuevi Wash is a large wash
of northeast San Bernardino County
in the southeast Mojave Desert
. The wash enters the center-west bank of Lake Havasu
on the California
–Arizona
border. Chemehuevi Wash drains the center of the Chemehuevi Valley and the regional landforms of washes, valleys and mountains is adjacent the northeast region of the Colorado Desert
, the entire region south on the west side of the south-flowing Colorado River
.
, with the water divide
separating the northwest draining Ward Valley, a southwest tributary to the Piute Wash
region west and northwest ot Needles
. The Chemehuevi Wash and Valley drain southeasterly, then turn due east for about 12 miles.
The Chemehuevi Wash and Valley are about 15 miles (24 km) wide and the change in direction of the drainage to due east to meet the west shore of Lake Havasu
is caused by the blocks of mountains, the Turtle Mountains southwest, and the Whipple Mountains
southeast; the large Whipple massif
is also the cause of the change in the due-south course of the Colorado River
changing from southeast, back to southwest. The Colorado River then continues mostly south, but again makes other turns before reaching the north of the Gulf of California
.
), is located in the center of Chemehuevi Valley, near the wash source regions in the northwest.
of southeast Nevada
and California. The watershed is a western tributary to the Havasu-Mohave Lakes Watershed.
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
of northeast San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
in the southeast Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. The wash enters the center-west bank of Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu is a large reservoir behind Parker Dam on the Colorado River, on the border between California and Arizona. Lake Havasu City sits on the lake's eastern shore. The lake has a capacity of . The concrete arch dam was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation between 1934 and 1938...
on the California
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...
–Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
border. Chemehuevi Wash drains the center of the Chemehuevi Valley and the regional landforms of washes, valleys and mountains is adjacent the northeast region of the Colorado Desert
Colorado Desert
California's Colorado Desert is a part of the larger Sonoran Desert, which extends across southwest North America. The Colorado Desert region encompasses approximately , reaching from the Mexican border in the south to the higher-elevation Mojave Desert in the north and from the Colorado River in...
, the entire region south on the west side of the south-flowing Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
.
Description
The 35-mile (56 km) long Chemehuevi Wash drains the center of Chemehuevi Valley; it begins southwest of the center of the Sacramento MountainsSacramento Mountains (California)
The Sacramento Mountains of California are southwest of Needles and form part of the towns west and southwest border; the range is east of the Piute Mountains and northwest of the Chemehuevi Mountains. The range lies in a northwest-southeasterly direction south of Interstate 40, and reach an...
, with the water divide
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
separating the northwest draining Ward Valley, a southwest tributary to the Piute Wash
Piute Wash
The Piute Wash of extreme southeastern Nevada and northeast San Bernardino County California is the south-flowing drainage of the Piute Valley. The wash and valley are located northwest of Needles, California....
region west and northwest ot Needles
Needles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
. The Chemehuevi Wash and Valley drain southeasterly, then turn due east for about 12 miles.
The Chemehuevi Wash and Valley are about 15 miles (24 km) wide and the change in direction of the drainage to due east to meet the west shore of Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu is a large reservoir behind Parker Dam on the Colorado River, on the border between California and Arizona. Lake Havasu City sits on the lake's eastern shore. The lake has a capacity of . The concrete arch dam was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation between 1934 and 1938...
is caused by the blocks of mountains, the Turtle Mountains southwest, and the Whipple Mountains
Whipple Mountains
The Whipple Mountains, 'Avii Kur'utat in the Mojave language, are located in eastern San Bernardino County, California. They are directly west of the Colorado River, Parker Dam, and Lake Havasu; south of Needles, California; north of Parker, Arizona and Vidal, California; and northeast of Vidal...
southeast; the large Whipple massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
is also the cause of the change in the due-south course of the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
changing from southeast, back to southwest. The Colorado River then continues mostly south, but again makes other turns before reaching the north of the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
.
Stepladder Mountains Wilderness
The Stepladder Mountains Wilderness, (Stepladder MountainsStepladder Mountains
The Stepladder Mountains are located in southeastern California in the United States. The range, found in San Bernardino County, is home to the 84,199-acre Stepladder Mountains Wilderness, which protects the Desert tortoise, California's state reptile...
), is located in the center of Chemehuevi Valley, near the wash source regions in the northwest.
Watersheds
The Chemehuevi Wash Watershed is south of the Piute WashPiute Wash
The Piute Wash of extreme southeastern Nevada and northeast San Bernardino County California is the south-flowing drainage of the Piute Valley. The wash and valley are located northwest of Needles, California....
of southeast Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and California. The watershed is a western tributary to the Havasu-Mohave Lakes Watershed.