Holly River
Encyclopedia
The Holly River is a tributary
of the Elk River
in central West Virginia
in the United States
. Via the Elk, Kanawha
, and Ohio
Rivers, it is part of the watershed
of the Mississippi River
, draining an area of 148 square miles (383.3 km²) in a rural region of the Allegheny Mountains
. It is approximately 3.9 miles (6.3 km) long, or 28 miles (45.1 km) including its Left Fork.
The Holly River is formed by the confluence
of its Left Fork and its Right Fork:
From the confluence of its left and right forks, the Holly River flows westward 3.9 miles (6.3 km) as an arm of Sutton Lake
, formed by a dam on the Elk River, to its mouth approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) east of Sutton
. The Holly River’s course and the lower reaches of the left and right forks are part of the Elk River Wildlife Management Area
.
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 97% of the Holly River watershed is forest
ed, mostly deciduous
. Approximately 2% is used for pasture and agriculture.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Elk River
Elk River (West Virginia)
The Elk River is a tributary of the Kanawha River, long, in central West Virginia in the United States. Via the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
in central West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Elk, Kanawha
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
, and Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
Rivers, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, draining an area of 148 square miles (383.3 km²) in a rural region of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. It is approximately 3.9 miles (6.3 km) long, or 28 miles (45.1 km) including its Left Fork.
The Holly River is formed by the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of its Left Fork and its Right Fork:
- The Left Fork Holly River, 24.1 miles (38.8 km) long, rises in northeastern Webster County, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of PickensPickens, West VirginiaPickens is an unincorporated census-designated place in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. Pickens is west-southwest of Huttonsville. It is the home of the Cunningham-Roberts Museum. Pickens has a post office with ZIP code 26230. As of the 2010 census, its population was 66....
, and flows generally westward through the southern part of Holly River State ParkHolly River State ParkHolly River State Park is located in Webster County, West Virginia, USA, approximately north of Webster Springs. It is the second largest park in the West Virginia state park system with a total of...
and the community of Hacker ValleyHacker Valley, West VirginiaHacker Valley is an unincorporated community in northern Webster County, West Virginia, United States, along the Left Fork of the Holly River. Its ZIP Code is 26222....
into eastern Braxton County. - The Right Fork Holly River, 23.9 miles (38.5 km) long, rises in north-central Webster County, approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of Webster SpringsWebster Springs, West VirginiaWebster Springs is a town in Webster County, West Virginia, United States. Although it was incorporated as Addison in 1892, it is more frequently referred to as Webster Springs, the name of the town's post office. It was named as such for Addison McLaughlin, upon whose land the town was originally...
, and flows generally northwestward through the communities of DianaDiana, West VirginiaDiana is an unincorporated community in Webster County, West Virginia, United States, along West Virginia Route 15 and the Right Fork of the Holly River. It is the birth place of actor Josh Stewart, most notable for his starring role as Holt McLaren on the FX series Dirt starring alongside...
and Big RunBig Run, Webster County, West VirginiaBig Run is an unincorporated community on the Right Fork of the Holly River in Webster County, West Virginia, United States....
into eastern Braxton County.
From the confluence of its left and right forks, the Holly River flows westward 3.9 miles (6.3 km) as an arm of Sutton Lake
Sutton Lake
Sutton Lake is a reservoir on the Elk River in Braxton and Webster counties, West Virginia. Sutton Lake is located just upstream of Sutton. It was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1938. Construction of the dam began in 1956 and was completed in 1961. The dam is high, long, and...
, formed by a dam on the Elk River, to its mouth approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) east of Sutton
Sutton, West Virginia
Sutton is a town in Braxton County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 1,011 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Braxton County. Sutton is situated at a center of transportation in West Virginia. Interstate 79, a major north-south route, connects with Appalachian...
. The Holly River’s course and the lower reaches of the left and right forks are part of the Elk River Wildlife Management Area
Elk River Wildlife Management Area
Elk RIver Wildlife Management Area is located on east of Sutton in Braxton County, West Virginia. It protects lands along the Holly River and Elk River upstream of Sutton Lake.-See also:*Animal conservation*Fishing*Hunting...
.
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 97% of the Holly River watershed is forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed, mostly deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
. Approximately 2% is used for pasture and agriculture.