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Big Butte Creek

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Big Butte Creek

Big Butte Creek is a 12-mile-long (19 km) tributary of the Rogue River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains approximately 245 square miles (635 km2) of Jackson County. Its two forks, the North Fork and the South Fork, both begin high in the Cascade Range near Mount McLoughlin. Flowing predominantly west, they meet near the city of Butte Falls. The main stem flows generally northwest until it empties into the Rogue River near McLeod, about one mile southwest of William L. Jess Dam and Lost Creek Lake. Big Butte Creek's watershed was originally settled over 8,000 years ago by humans, and in historical times by the Klamath, Upper Umpqua, and Takelma tribes of Native Americans. In the Rogue River Wars of the 1850s, most of the Native Americans were either killed or forced onto Indian reservations. The first white settlers arrived in the 1860s, naming the creek after Snowy Butte, an early name for Mount McLoughlin. In the late 19th century, the watershed was primarily used for agriculture and logging. The small city of Butte Falls was incorporated in 1911, and remains the only incorporated municipality within the watershed's boundaries. Big Butte Springs, located in the watershed, provides clean drinking water to more than 115,000 residents of the Rogue Valley. It emits over 26 million US gallons (98,000,000 L) of water per day. Water from Big Butte Creek is also diverted for irrigation at several other locations. The water quality of the Big Butte Creek watershed is generally high, and it supports several species of trout and salmon. The watershed is also home to more than 152 species of birds, 63 species of mammals, 19 species of reptiles, and numerous plants. The Poverty Flats region was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by the Bureau of Land Management in 1995 to protect several rare species of plants.

Infobox

Etymology
Named after Snowy Butte[a] (now Mount McLoughlin)
Country
United States
State
Oregon
County
Jackson County
Source
Near Butte Falls
• location
the mouth
• coordinates
42°39′29″N 122°41′42″W / 42.65806°N 122.69500°W / 42.65806; -122.69500
• elevation
1,562 ft (476 m)
Mouth
Rogue River
Length
12 mi (19 km)
Basin size
245 sq mi (630 km2)
• average
244 cu ft/s (6.9 m3/s)
• minimum
6.4 cu ft/s (0.18 m3/s)(June 23–24, 1977)
• maximum
16,800 cu ft/s (480 m3/s)(December 22, 1964)

Tables

Discharge · Course › Discharge
South Fork
South Fork
Stream
South Fork
Location
above Willow Creek
Drainage basin
67.6 sq mi (175 km2)
Years recorded
1986–1991
Average flow
61.4 cu ft/s (1.74 m3/s)
Maximum flow
662 cu ft/s (18.7 m3/s)(February 23, 1986)
Minimum flow
21 cu ft/s (0.59 m3/s)(August–September 1988, September 1990)
South Fork
South Fork
Stream
South Fork
Location
near Butte Falls
Drainage basin
138 sq mi (357 km2)
Years recorded
1911–1991
Average flow
151 cu ft/s (4.28 m3/s)
Maximum flow
12,600 cu ft/s (357 m3/s)(December 22, 1964)
Minimum flow
31 cu ft/s (0.88 m3/s)(September 1981)
Main stem
Main stem
Stream
Main stem
Location
near mouth
Drainage basin
245 sq mi (635 km2)
Years recorded
1945–Present
Average flow
244 cu ft/s (6.91 m3/s)
Maximum flow
16,800 cu ft/s (476 m3/s)(December 22, 1964)
Minimum flow
6.4 cu ft/s (0.18 m3/s)(June 23–24, 1977)
Stream
Location
Drainage basin
Years recorded
Average flow
Maximum flow
Minimum flow
South Fork
above Willow Creek
67.6 sq mi (175 km2)
1986–1991
61.4 cu ft/s (1.74 m3/s)
s)(February 23, 1986)
s)(August–September 1988, September 1990)
South Fork
near Butte Falls
138 sq mi (357 km2)
1911–1991
151 cu ft/s (4.28 m3/s)
12,600 cu ft/s (357 m3/s)(December 22, 1964)
s)(September 1981)
Main stem
near mouth
245 sq mi (635 km2)
1945–Present
244 cu ft/s (6.91 m3/s)
16,800 cu ft/s (476 m3/s)(December 22, 1964)
s)(June 23–24, 1977)

References

  1. A butte (/bjuːt/ BEWT, from French) is an isolated hill with steep sides and a relatively small top.
  2. Source elevation and coordinates derived from the GNIS mouth elevations of the North and South forks.
  3. GNIS Big Butte Creek 1980.
  4. TopoQuest Butte Falls Quadrangle, Butte Falls.
  5. Rogue River National Forest 1995.
  6. USGS 14337500.
  7. Benchmark Maps 2010, pp. 96–97.
  8. GNIS North Fork 1980; GNIS South Fork 1980.
  9. GNIS Rustler Peak 1980.
  10. Giordano & Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club 2004, pp. 116–117.
  11. TopoQuest Butte Falls Quadrangle, Cobleigh Road.
  12. TopoQuest McLeod Quadrangle, Netherlands Road.
  13. ODFW 2009.
  14. TopoQuest McLeod Quadrangle, McLeod.
  15. USGS 14335200 Surface-Water.
  16. USGS 14335200 Peak Streamflow.
  17. USGS 14335200 Water Data.
  18. USGS 14335500 Surface-Water.
  19. USGS 14335500 Peak Streamflow.
  20. USGS 14335500 Water Data.
  21. BLM 2008.
  22. Upper Rogue Watershed Association 2006.
  23. BLM 1999.
  24. BLM Central Watershed Analysis.
  25. Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest Sky Lakes.
  26. Fagan 1885, p. 258.
  27. McArthur & McArthur 2003, p. 79.
  28. Oregon State Library 2010.
  29. Fletcher et al. 2005, p. 143.
  30. Southern Oregon University 2002.
  31. Heie 2008.
  32. Freeman & April 27, 2009.
  33. Freeman & July 3, 2009.
  34. Freeman 2010.
  35. Freeman & October 4, 2011.
  36. Freeman & October 28, 2011.
  37. Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest Loop Tour.
Image
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