Fir Creek (Bull Run River)
Encyclopedia
Fir Creek is a tributary, about 5 miles (8 km) long, of the Bull Run River
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. Part of the system that provides drinking water to the city of Portland
, it flows generally northwest through a protected part of the Mount Hood National Forest
in Clackamas
and Multnomah
counties. It joins the Bull Run River at the upper end of Bull Run Reservoir 1, about 14 miles (22.5 km) from the larger stream's confluence with the Sandy River
.
(USGS) stream gauge
0.6 mile (0.965604 km) from the mouth
. The creek joins the main stem Bull Run River near the upper end of Bull Run Reservoir 1, about 14 miles (22.5 km) from where the river joins the Sandy River.
and the United States Forest Service
.
Bull Run River (Oregon)
The Bull Run River is a tributary of the Sandy River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Beginning at the lower end of Bull Run Lake in the Cascade Range, it flows generally west through the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit , a restricted area meant to protect the river and its tributaries from...
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...
. Part of the system that provides drinking water to the city of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, it flows generally northwest through a protected part of the Mount Hood National Forest
Mount Hood National Forest
The Mount Hood National Forest is located east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes...
in Clackamas
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...
and Multnomah
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
counties. It joins the Bull Run River at the upper end of Bull Run Reservoir 1, about 14 miles (22.5 km) from the larger stream's confluence with the Sandy River
Sandy River (Oregon)
The Sandy River is a tributary of the Columbia River in northwestern Oregon in the United States. Measured by a United States Geological Survey gauge downstream of the Sandy's confluence with the Bull Run River, from the mouth, the river's average discharge is . The maximum daily recorded flow...
.
Course
The creek arises in the Mount Hood National Forest in northern Clackamas County near its border with Multnomah County. The stream flows north, crossing the border almost immediately and entering Multnomah County. Turning west, it receives an unnamed tributary from the right before turning gradually northwest. It passes under Forest Road 1211 and by a United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) stream gauge
Stream gauge
A stream gauge, stream gage or gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water surface elevation and/or volumetric discharge are generally taken and observations of biota may also be...
0.6 mile (0.965604 km) from the mouth
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
. The creek joins the main stem Bull Run River near the upper end of Bull Run Reservoir 1, about 14 miles (22.5 km) from where the river joins the Sandy River.
Discharge
Since 1975 the USGS has monitored the flow of Fir Creek at a stream gauge 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) from the mouth. The average flow between then and 2009 was 34.5 cuft/s. This is from a drainage area of about 6 square miles (16 km²). The maximum flow recorded during this period was 1690 cuft/s on November 25, 1999. The minimum was 1.4 cuft/s on September 5–7, 2003.Watershed
The Bull Run River watershed, which includes Fir Creek, drains 139 mi2. The basin, which is the main source of Portland's drinking water, is largely restricted to uses related to water collection, storage, treatment, and forest management. The Fir Creek basin of about 6 mi2 amounts to about 4 percent of the total Bull Run River watershed, which is managed by the Portland Water BureauPortland Water Bureau
The Portland Water Bureau is the municipal water department for the city of Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. The bureau manages a water supply that comes mainly from the Bull Run River in the foothills of the Cascade Range east of the city and secondarily from the Columbia South Shore Well...
and the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
.
Works cited
- Portland Water Bureau (2007). "Landscape Conditions", Chapter 4 of Current Habitat Conditions in the Habitat Conservation Plan Area. Portland, Oregon: Portland Water Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2010.