Elk Creek (Rogue River)
Encyclopedia
Elk Creek is an 18 miles (29 km) tributary of the Rogue River
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. Beginning at 4931 feet (1,503 m) above sea level
in the Cascade Range
, it flows generally southwest through the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest to Rogue Elk Park in Jackson County
. Elk Creek enters the river 5 miles (8 km) downstream from Lost Creek Lake
and slightly upstream of Trail
. Elk Creek Dam, an incomplete flood-control structure that blocked fish migration for more than 20 years, was partly demolished in 2008 to restore the creek to its original channel.
(RM) 7 or river kilometer (RK) 11, Middle Creek enters from the right, and shortly thereafter Alco Creek also enters from the right. Elk Creek receives West Branch Elk Creek from the right about 3 miles (5 km) from the mouth, slightly upstream of the Elk Creek Dam. Below the dam, the creek passes a United States Geological Survey
(USGS) stream gauge
, which is on the right at RM 1.3 (RK 2.1). Shortly thereafter, Berry Creek enters from the right. The creek then passes Rogue Elk County Park, which is on the left, flows under Oregon Route 62, and enters the Rogue River 152 miles (244.6 km) from its mouth
on the Pacific Ocean
.
in 1982 to help control flooding along the Rogue River. The other two were the Lost Creek Dam
, later re-named the William L. Jess Dam, on the Rogue main stem
, and the Applegate Dam
on the Applegate River
. When the Elk Creek Dam was about one-third finished, lawsuits to protect salmon
and other migratory fish led to a court injunction
that stopped construction in 1987. After 1992, fish trying to swim past the dam were trapped and hauled around it in trucks. Litigation and political battles lasting more than 20 years led to the compromise of demolishing about 15 percent of the dam and leaving the rest intact so that it might be restored in the future. In 2008, the United States Army Corps of Engineers
dismantled part of the dam with explosives and restored the creek to its original channel. Originally scheduled to be 240 feet (73.2 m) high, the dam had reached a height of 80 feet (24.4 m) before work was stopped.
Rogue River (Oregon)
The Rogue River in southwestern Oregon in the United States flows about in a generally westward direction from the Cascade Range to the Pacific Ocean. Known for its salmon runs, whitewater rafting, and rugged scenery, it was one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act...
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...
. Beginning at 4931 feet (1,503 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
in the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, it flows generally southwest through the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest to Rogue Elk Park in Jackson County
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
. Elk Creek enters the river 5 miles (8 km) downstream from Lost Creek Lake
Lost Creek Lake
Lost Creek Lake is a reservoir located on the Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon, USA. The lake is impounded by William L. Jess Dam which was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1977 for flood control. The lake and dam were the first completed elements of the multi-purpose Rogue...
and slightly upstream of Trail
Trail, Oregon
Trail is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office with a ZIP code of 97541. Trail lies at the intersection of Oregon Route 227 and Oregon Route 62, just north of Shady Cove and west of Lost Creek Lake....
. Elk Creek Dam, an incomplete flood-control structure that blocked fish migration for more than 20 years, was partly demolished in 2008 to restore the creek to its original channel.
Course
In its first 6 miles (10 km) or so, Elk Creek receives Brush Creek from the left, Swanson and Bitter creeks from the right, and Button Creek from the left. From here to the creek mouth, Elk Creek Road runs parallel to the stream along its right bank. Thereafter, Dodes Creek enters from the left and Sugarpine, Jones, Shell, and Flat creeks from the right. Near river mileRiver 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) 7 or river kilometer (RK) 11, Middle Creek enters from the right, and shortly thereafter Alco Creek also enters from the right. Elk Creek receives West Branch Elk Creek from the right about 3 miles (5 km) from the mouth, slightly upstream of the Elk Creek Dam. Below the dam, the creek passes a United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) stream gauge
Stream gauge
A stream gauge, stream gage or gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water surface elevation and/or volumetric discharge are generally taken and observations of biota may also be...
, which is on the right at RM 1.3 (RK 2.1). Shortly thereafter, Berry Creek enters from the right. The creek then passes Rogue Elk County Park, which is on the left, flows under Oregon Route 62, and enters the Rogue River 152 miles (244.6 km) from its mouth
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
on 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...
.
Dam
Elk Creek Dam is about 3 miles (5 km) from the mouth of the creek. It was one of three dams authorized by CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1982 to help control flooding along the Rogue River. The other two were the Lost Creek Dam
Lost Creek Lake
Lost Creek Lake is a reservoir located on the Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon, USA. The lake is impounded by William L. Jess Dam which was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1977 for flood control. The lake and dam were the first completed elements of the multi-purpose Rogue...
, later re-named the William L. Jess Dam, on the Rogue main stem
Main Stem
"Main Stem" is 1942 instrumental by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra. Although recorded in 1942, the single would not be released until 1944 where it was Duke Ellington's last of four number one's on the Harlem Hit Parade. "Main Stem" would also peak at number twenty on the pop chart"Main...
, and the Applegate Dam
Applegate Lake
Applegate Lake is a 988-acre reservoir located approximately from Jacksonville, Oregon, United States, and south of Applegate, Oregon, along Upper Applegate Road. The lake is an impoundment of the Applegate River....
on the Applegate River
Applegate River
The Applegate River is a long tributary of the Rogue River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains approximately . Rising in northern California, it soon crosses the border and flows northeast then northwest to meet the Rogue about west of Grants Pass...
. When the Elk Creek Dam was about one-third finished, lawsuits to protect salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and other migratory fish led to a court injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
that stopped construction in 1987. After 1992, fish trying to swim past the dam were trapped and hauled around it in trucks. Litigation and political battles lasting more than 20 years led to the compromise of demolishing about 15 percent of the dam and leaving the rest intact so that it might be restored in the future. In 2008, the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
dismantled part of the dam with explosives and restored the creek to its original channel. Originally scheduled to be 240 feet (73.2 m) high, the dam had reached a height of 80 feet (24.4 m) before work was stopped.