Buck Creek (Kiamichi River tributary)
Encyclopedia
Buck Creek is a 38.9 miles (62.6 km) stream
in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
. It flows generally southward from its headwaters in the western Kiamichi Mountains
to its confluence
with the Kiamichi River
.
Buck Creek rises in southern Pittsburg County
and proceeds southwest into the McGee Valley in Atoka County
. Turning east, it runs into Buck Creek Mountain and turns south, entering Pushmataha County. The creek cuts through several water gaps, first between 1024 feet (312.1 m) White Rock Mountain and Horsehead Mountain, then between White Rock Mountain and Big Mountain, and finally between Parker Mountain and Little Mountain just before its confluence with the Kiamichi. The creek
is spring-fed along its entire length, ensuring a minimal and steady flow of water year-round. For much of its course it flows through a narrow, steeply-sided, winding valley. Due to the numerous ravines and smaller creeks which feed it, Buck Creek rises rapidly during heavy rains. Its principal tributaries are Kimbrough, Little Kimbrough and Horsehead creeks.
Spectacular formations of boulders, many of them as large as houses or buildings, line portions of the Buck Creek valley.
During the years following the 1880s
, when the region was opened to development
by the arrival of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
—whose track crossed Buck Creek at its mouth on the Kiamichi River—its valley provided a route into the mountains and was used by loggers
. Extensive logging took place throughout the creek watershed
, and its timber
was brought down to the railroad via a railroad tram
constructed up the creek valley. Flood
s did great damage to the tram, and it was eventually closed.
Until construction of Oklahoma State Highway 2, which bridged the stream, Buck Creek was a serious impediment to overland transportation in the Kiamichi River valley. A low-water ford was used, but was unreliable and unsafe due to frequent floods or other periods of high water.
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board
has in past contemplated building a flood-control dam
on Buck Creek, but those plans no longer appear under active consideration, particularly since construction of dams impounding Jack’s Fork Creek for Sardis Lake
and the lower Kiamichi River (Hugo Lake
). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers more recently studied the idea of damming several tributaries of the river below Sardis Lake—Buck Creek, Ten Mile Creek, Pine Creek and Cedar Creek—to better regulate and restore the river’s health and temperature. Given fiscal restraints and public sentiment—which no longer favors construction of dams—no activity is anticipated.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
-Administrative History:* Ca. 1000-1500: Caddoan Mississippian civilization at Spiro Mounds* 1492-1718: Spain* 1718-1763: France* 1763-1800: Spain* 1800-1803: France* 1803–present: United States...
. It flows generally southward from its headwaters in the western Kiamichi Mountains
Kiamichi Mountains
The Kiamichi Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Oklahoma. A subrange within the larger Ouachita Mountains that extend from Oklahoma to western Arkansas, the Kiamichi Mountains sit within Le Flore, Pushmataha, and McCurtain counties near the towns of Poteau and Albion...
to its 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...
with the Kiamichi River
Kiamichi River
The Kiamichi River is a river in southeastern Oklahoma. A tributary of the Red River, its headwaters rise on Pine Mountain in the Ouachita Mountains near the Arkansas border...
.
Buck Creek rises in southern Pittsburg County
Pittsburg County, Oklahoma
Pittsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 43,953. Its county seat is McAlester.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,569 km²...
and proceeds southwest into the McGee Valley in Atoka County
Atoka County, Oklahoma
Atoka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and was formed in 1907 from Choctaw Lands. As of 2000, the population is 13,879. Its county seat is Atoka.-Geography:...
. Turning east, it runs into Buck Creek Mountain and turns south, entering Pushmataha County. The creek cuts through several water gaps, first between 1024 feet (312.1 m) White Rock Mountain and Horsehead Mountain, then between White Rock Mountain and Big Mountain, and finally between Parker Mountain and Little Mountain just before its confluence with the Kiamichi. The creek
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
is spring-fed along its entire length, ensuring a minimal and steady flow of water year-round. For much of its course it flows through a narrow, steeply-sided, winding valley. Due to the numerous ravines and smaller creeks which feed it, Buck Creek rises rapidly during heavy rains. Its principal tributaries are Kimbrough, Little Kimbrough and Horsehead creeks.
Spectacular formations of boulders, many of them as large as houses or buildings, line portions of the Buck Creek valley.
During the years following the 1880s
1880s
The 1880s was the decade that spanned from January 1, 1880 to December 31, 1889. They occurred at the core period of the Second Industrial Revolution. Most Western countries experienced a large economic boom, due to the mass production of railroads and other more convenient methods of travel...
, when the region was opened to development
Land development
Land development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
by the arrival of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
The St. Louis – San Francisco Railway , also known as the Frisco, was a railroad that operated in the Midwest and South Central U.S. from 1876 to 1980.-History:...
—whose track crossed Buck Creek at its mouth on the Kiamichi River—its valley provided a route into the mountains and was used by loggers
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
. Extensive logging took place throughout the creek 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...
, and its timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
was brought down to the railroad via a railroad tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
constructed up the creek valley. 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 did great damage to the tram, and it was eventually closed.
Until construction of Oklahoma State Highway 2, which bridged the stream, Buck Creek was a serious impediment to overland transportation in the Kiamichi River valley. A low-water ford was used, but was unreliable and unsafe due to frequent floods or other periods of high water.
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is an agency in the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. OWRB is responsible for managing and protection the water resources of Oklahoma as well as for planning for the state's long-range water needs. The Board is composed of nine members...
has in past contemplated building a flood-control dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on Buck Creek, but those plans no longer appear under active consideration, particularly since construction of dams impounding Jack’s Fork Creek for Sardis Lake
Sardis Lake (Oklahoma)
Sardis Lake is a reservoir in Pushmataha County and Latimer County in Oklahoma, USA. The dam impounding the lake is located approximately north of Clayton. The lake covers with of shoreline. The lake is an impoundment of Jackfork Creek, a tributary of the Kiamichi River.The lake's normal pool...
and the lower Kiamichi River (Hugo Lake
Hugo Lake
Hugo Lake is manmade lake located east of Hugo, in Choctaw County, Oklahoma, USA. It is formed by Hugo Lake Dam on the Kiamichi River upstream from the Red River. The dam is visible from U.S. Route 70, which crosses its spillway just west of Sawyer. Lake Hugo features approximately of...
). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers more recently studied the idea of damming several tributaries of the river below Sardis Lake—Buck Creek, Ten Mile Creek, Pine Creek and Cedar Creek—to better regulate and restore the river’s health and temperature. Given fiscal restraints and public sentiment—which no longer favors construction of dams—no activity is anticipated.