Tule River
Encyclopedia
The Tule River, also called Rio de San Pedro or Rio San Pedro, is a river
in Tulare County
in the U.S. state
of California
. The river originates in the Sierra Nevada east of Porterville
and consists of three forks, North, Middle and South. The North Fork and Middle Fork meet above Springville
. The South Fork meets the others at Lake Success
. Downstream of Success Dam, the river flows west through Porterville. The river used to empty into Tulare Lake
, but its waters have been diverted for irrigation
. However, the river does reach Tulare Lake during flood
s. Tulare Lake is the terminal sink of an endorheic basin that historically also received the Kaweah
and Kern River
s as well as southern distributaries of the Kings
.
, from its headwaters near Camp Nelson
. The larger North Fork flows south from inside Sequoia National Park
, plunges over North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Tule River Falls, and flows southwest to join the South Fork. After the confluence of the North and South forks, the Middle Fork Tule River flows more or less south and southwest, parallel to State Route 190, to join the North Fork and form the Tule River.
, and wind west to the former bed of Tulare Lake. It passes the cities of Tipton
and Corcoran
, and splits into many channels, eventually disappearing into multiple agricultural irrigation and drainage channels. The river terminates about 9 miles (14.5 km) east-northeast of Kettleman City
in Kings County
at a junction with a canal carrying water from the Kings River
.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Tulare County
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
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 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...
. The river originates in the Sierra Nevada east of Porterville
Porterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
and consists of three forks, North, Middle and South. The North Fork and Middle Fork meet above Springville
Springville, California
Springville is a census-designated place in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 934 at the 2010 census, down from 1,109 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Springville is located at ....
. The South Fork meets the others at Lake Success
Lake Success (California)
Lake Success is a lake near Porterville, California on the Tule River at . It is formed by Success Dam and has a capacity of . The tall earth dam is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its construction was completed in 1961...
. Downstream of Success Dam, the river flows west through Porterville. The river used to empty into Tulare Lake
Tulare Lake
Tulare Lake, named Laguna de Tache by the Spanish, is a fresh-water dry lake with residual wetlands and marshes in southern San Joaquin Valley, California...
, but its waters have been diverted for irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
. However, the river does reach Tulare Lake during flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s. Tulare Lake is the terminal sink of an endorheic basin that historically also received the Kaweah
Kaweah River
The Kaweah River in the U.S. state of California flows westward from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It rises in forks in the southern Sierra Nevada inside Sequoia National Park, the longest of which is the Middle Fork, about long...
and Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
s as well as southern distributaries of the Kings
Kings River (California)
The Kings River is a major river of south-central California. About long, it drains an area of the high western Sierra Nevada and the Central Valley. A large alluvial fan has formed where the river's gradient decreases in the Central Valley so the river divides into distributaries...
.
North Fork
The North Fork, 19 miles (30.6 km) long, begins high on a ridge facing south towards the Middle Fork Tule River drainage. It plunges madly southwest down a canyon in the Sequoia National Monument, then is joined at the same time by Kramer Creek and Backbone Creek as it enters a broader and less inclined valley. At Milo, the river turns southeast and parallels the Springville-Milo Road. Sycamore and Whitney Creeks join the river from the east and west, respectively, before it meets the Middle Fork at Springville.Middle Fork
The 6.9 miles (11.1 km) Middle Fork is formed by the confluence of the short South Fork Middle Fork Tule River and the North Fork Middle Fork Tule River. The South Fork flows northwest and west, paralleling California State Route 190California State Route 190
State Route 190 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that is split into two parts by the Sierra Nevada. The western portion of begins at Tipton at a junction with State Route 99 and heads east towards Porterville before ending at Quaking Aspen in the Sequoia National Forest...
, from its headwaters near Camp Nelson
Camp Nelson, California
Camp Nelson is a census-designated place in Tulare County, California, United States. Camp Nelson is east of Springville. Camp Nelson has a post office with ZIP code 93208...
. The larger North Fork flows south from inside Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
, plunges over North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Tule River Falls, and flows southwest to join the South Fork. After the confluence of the North and South forks, the Middle Fork Tule River flows more or less south and southwest, parallel to State Route 190, to join the North Fork and form the Tule River.
South Fork
The 27.7 miles (44.6 km) South Fork Tule River joins the main Tule at Lake Success. Formed by the confluence of Blue Creek, Rocky Creek, Pigeon Creek and Bond Creek near Soda Springs, the river winds west-southwest through a narrow canyon. It then bends northwest, receiving Long Branch Creek from the left and Crew Creek from the right. It then forms an arm of Lake Success, which is crossed by State Route 190.Mainstem
From the confluence, the Tule River flows about 10 miles (16.1 km) south and west, still following State Route 190, to Lake Success. Before emptying into the lake, it is joined by Campbell Creek from the north, and Graham Creek from the east. The South Fork of the Tule River joins the river in Lake Success. The river then exits the Success Dam and flows west into PortervillePorterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
, and wind west to the former bed of Tulare Lake. It passes the cities of Tipton
Tipton, California
Tipton is a census-designated place in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 2,543 at the 2010 census, up from 1,790 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tipton is located at ....
and Corcoran
Corcoran, California
Corcoran is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located south-southeast of Hanford, at an elevation of 207 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and splits into many channels, eventually disappearing into multiple agricultural irrigation and drainage channels. The river terminates about 9 miles (14.5 km) east-northeast of Kettleman City
Kettleman City, California
Kettleman City is a census-designated place in Kings County, California, United States. Kettleman City is located southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 253 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,439 at the 2010 census, down from...
in Kings County
Kings County, California
Kings County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is located in a rich agricultural region. Kings County is also home to NAS Lemoore, which is the U.S. Navy's newest and largest master jet air station. The county seat is Hanford...
at a junction with a canal carrying water from the Kings River
Kings River (California)
The Kings River is a major river of south-central California. About long, it drains an area of the high western Sierra Nevada and the Central Valley. A large alluvial fan has formed where the river's gradient decreases in the Central Valley so the river divides into distributaries...
.