Bully Creek (Malheur River)
Encyclopedia
Bully Creek is a 62 miles (100 km) long tributary of the Malheur River
, located in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It drains 601 mi2 of Malheur County
. Arising in the Blue Mountains
, it flows generally southeast to its confluence with the Malheur River near Vale
.
are located near Sheep Rock in the southern edge of the Blue Mountains, southwest of Ironside
. It flows east, receiving Indian and Cottonwood creeks on the right, and Clover Creek on the left. Traveling through the community of Westfall
, the creek turns northeast. It is impounded by the 161 feet (49 m) tall Bully Creek Dam at river mile
(RM) 8 or river kilometer (RK) 13, forming Bully Creek Reservoir. From the reservoir, the creek flows southeast until it reaches Highway 20
. It parallels the highway and the Malheur River for several miles, passing through the outskirts of Vale. Bully Creek flows into the Malheur approximately 20 miles (32 km) above its confluence with the Snake River
, which in turn flows into the Columbia River
, and ultimately the Pacific Ocean
.
. Wedged between the Northern Basin and Range
and the Blue Mountains
ecoregion
s, the watershed experiences an arid
climate. Precipitation
ranges from 9 to 23 in (228.6 to 584.2 mm), with an average of 12 inches (305 mm). The highest elevation in the watershed is 6447 feet (1,965 m) at Juniper Mountain, while the lowest is 2244 feet (684 m) at the creek's mouth.
s have been identified within the Bully Creek watershed. Large mammals such as Rocky Mountain Elk
and Mule Deer
, Bobcat
s, Beaver
s, Otter
s, and Racoon
s inhabit the region. Twenty one species of fish have been spotted, but there are no anadromous species. The threatened
Bald Eagle
lives in the watershed during the winter.
The Bully Creek watershed is vegetated primarily by Sagebrush
, although Quaking Aspen
, Water Birch
, and Cottonwood
grow in riparian zone
s. Several noxious weeds have been identified, including Russian Knapweed
and White Top
.
migrated to the region approximately 1,000 years ago. Whites
first arrived in the in 1811 when fur traders from the Pacific Fur Company
passed through. The Oregon Trail
passed through the area in the 1840s, 50s, and 60s.
Melting snow and heavy rain caused an irrigation dam to fail on Bully Creek 19 miles (31 km) west of Vale on February 5, 1925. Flood waters surged down the creek, submerging Vale in 3 foot (0.9144 m) of water, producing widespread damage. A railroad bridge and parts of Highway 20 were washed out, and many cattle
and properties were destroyed. Overall, the flood caused over $500,000 in damage. Bully Creek Dam was constructed in 1963, used primarily for flood control
.
Malheur River
The Malheur River is a tributary of the Snake River in eastern Oregon in the United States. It drains a high desert area, between the Harney Basin and the Blue Mountains and the Snake....
, located 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...
. It drains 601 mi2 of Malheur County
Malheur County, Oregon
Malheur County is a county located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon. Most of the county observes the Mountain Time Zone, although the southern quarter of the county observes the Pacific Time Zone along with the...
. Arising in the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (Oregon)
The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the western United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into southeastern Washington...
, it flows generally southeast to its confluence with the Malheur River near Vale
Vale, Oregon
Vale is a city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States, about west of the Idaho border. It is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 20 and 26, on the Malheur River.Vale was selected as Malheur's county seat in 1955, 68 years after the county was founded...
.
Course
Bully Creek's headwatersSource (river or stream)
The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the place from which the water in the river or stream originates.-Definition:There is no universally agreed upon definition for determining a stream's source...
are located near Sheep Rock in the southern edge of the Blue Mountains, southwest of Ironside
Ironside, Oregon
Ironside is an unincorporated community in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. Ironside is located on U.S. Route 26 northwest of Vale. Ironside has a post office with ZIP code 97908....
. It flows east, receiving Indian and Cottonwood creeks on the right, and Clover Creek on the left. Traveling through the community of Westfall
Westfall, Oregon
Westfall is an unincorporated community in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. Westfall is about west of Vale. Westfall has a post office with ZIP code 97920....
, the creek turns northeast. It is impounded by the 161 feet (49 m) tall Bully Creek Dam at river mile
River mile
In the United States, a River mile is a measure of distance in miles along a river from its mouth. River mile numbers begin at zero and increase further upstream. The corresponding metric unit using kilometers is the River kilometer...
(RM) 8 or river kilometer (RK) 13, forming Bully Creek Reservoir. From the reservoir, the creek flows southeast until it reaches Highway 20
U.S. Route 20 in Oregon
U.S. Route 20 in Oregon is a major east–west cross-state highway, especially east of the Cascade Mountains. It connects U.S. Route 101 in Newport on the central Oregon Coast to the Idaho state line east of Nyssa.- Route description :...
. It parallels the highway and the Malheur River for several miles, passing through the outskirts of Vale. Bully Creek flows into the Malheur approximately 20 miles (32 km) above its confluence with the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
, which in turn flows into the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
, and ultimately the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
Watershed
Bully Creek drains 601 mi2 of eastern OregonEastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
. Wedged between the Northern Basin and Range
Northern Basin and Range (ecoregion)
The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion is a Level III ecoregion designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. states of Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and California. It contains dissected lava plains, rolling hills, alluvial fans, valleys, and scattered mountain ranges...
and the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (ecoregion)
The Blue Mountains ecoregion is a Level III ecoregion designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. state of Oregon, with small areas over the state border in Idaho and southeastern Washington...
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
s, the watershed experiences an arid
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
climate. Precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
ranges from 9 to 23 in (228.6 to 584.2 mm), with an average of 12 inches (305 mm). The highest elevation in the watershed is 6447 feet (1,965 m) at Juniper Mountain, while the lowest is 2244 feet (684 m) at the creek's mouth.
Flora and fauna
Two hundred and five species of vertebrateVertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
s have been identified within the Bully Creek watershed. Large mammals such as Rocky Mountain Elk
Rocky Mountain Elk
The Rocky Mountain Elk is a subspecies of elk found in the Rocky Mountains and adjacent ranges of Western North America. The winter ranges are most common in open forests and floodplain marshes in the lower elevations. In the summer it migrates to the subalpine forests and alpine basins...
and Mule Deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, Bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
s, Beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s, Otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s, and Racoon
Racoon
Racoon is a Dutch rock band, formed in 1997. Their first big appearance was at the 1999 Noorderslagfestival. First album Till Monkeys Fly appeared in January 2000, produced by Michael Schoots . The first single, Feel Like Flying, became a hit and got a lot of airplay on the Dutch radiostation 3FM...
s inhabit the region. Twenty one species of fish have been spotted, but there are no anadromous species. The threatened
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
lives in the watershed during the winter.
The Bully Creek watershed is vegetated primarily by Sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Artemisia tridentata is a shrub or small tree from the family Asteraceae. Some botanists treat it in the segregate genus Seriphidium, as S. tridentatum W. A. Weber, but this is not widely followed...
, although Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Populus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, and Quakies,. The trees have tall trunks, up to 25 metres, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. The glossy green leaves, dull beneath, become golden...
, Water Birch
Betula occidentalis
Betula occidentalis is a species of birch native to western North America, in Canada from Yukon east to western Ontario and southwards, and in the United States from eastern Washington east to western North Dakota, and south to eastern California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, and also...
, and Cottonwood
Populus angustifolia
Populus angustifolia is a species of poplar tree known by the common names Narrowleaf Cottonwood and Willow-leaved Poplar. This tree is native to the Great Basin in the United States where it is most often found by streams and creeks at some elevation.The tree is slim in profile, with yellow-green...
grow in riparian zone
Riparian zone
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the fifteen terrestrial biomes of the earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian vegetation, characterized by...
s. Several noxious weeds have been identified, including Russian Knapweed
Russian knapweed
Russian Knapweed is a bushy rhizomatous perennial, up to 8 dm tall. Stems and leaves are finely arachnoid-tomentose becoming glabrous and green with age. The rosette leaves are oblanceolate, pinnately lobed to entire, 2–3 cm wide by 3–8 cm long...
and White Top
Austrodanthonia caespitosa
Austrodanthonia caespitosa, known by various common names including Common Wallaby-grass, Ringed Wallaby-grass, and White-top, is a species of grass native to southern parts of Australia.-Description:...
.
History
The first humans arrived in the Bully Creek watershed about 13,000 years ago. The Northern Paiute tribe of Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
migrated to the region approximately 1,000 years ago. Whites
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
first arrived in the in 1811 when fur traders from the Pacific Fur Company
Pacific Fur Company
The Pacific Fur Company was founded June 23, 1810, in New York City. Half of the stock of the company was held by the American Fur Company, owned exclusively by John Jacob Astor, and Astor provided all of the capital for the enterprise. The other half of the stock was ascribed to working partners...
passed through. The Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
passed through the area in the 1840s, 50s, and 60s.
Melting snow and heavy rain caused an irrigation dam to fail on Bully Creek 19 miles (31 km) west of Vale on February 5, 1925. Flood waters surged down the creek, submerging Vale in 3 foot (0.9144 m) of water, producing widespread damage. A railroad bridge and parts of Highway 20 were washed out, and many cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and properties were destroyed. Overall, the flood caused over $500,000 in damage. Bully Creek Dam was constructed in 1963, used primarily for flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
.