Feather Headwaters
Encyclopedia
The Feather Headwaters are 3 watersheds totaling 3450 sq mi (8,935.5 km²) and which drain to Lake Oroville
. The North Fork Feather Watershed is 1090 sq mi (2,823.1 km²)—including the West Branch drainage of about 282.5 sq mi (731.7 km²). The East Branch North Fork Feather Watershed is 1010 sq mi (2,615.9 km²), and the Middle Fork Feather Watershed is 1350 sq mi (3,496.5 km²)—including the South Fork drainage of about 132 sq mi (341.9 km²). Headwaters drainage is impaired by the Palermo Canal at Oroville Dam, the Hendricks Canal at the West Branch Feather River
, and the Miners Ranch Canal at the South Fork's Ponderosa Reservoir. Additionally, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
releases Upper Feather water into the Hyatt Generating-Pumping Plant for hydroelectric generation during daily peak demand.
18020121) includes the West Branch and North Fork rivers and receives flow from the East Branch North Fork Feather Watershed.
West Branch: The West Branch (or West Fork) Feather River
originates in Butte County and Lassen National Forest
and flows near the North Fork watershed's drainage divide with the Mills-Big Chico Watershed generally north-to-south to the northwest arm of Lake Oroville
. The West Branch flow is impaired by a up to 125 cuft/s diverted to the 8.66 mi (13.9 km) Hendricks Canal
, and the Magalia 73 Dam conveys water to the Lime Saddle and Coal Canyon powerhouses near Lake Oroville, then to a Thermalito powerplant
. The Little West Fork West Branch River is a similarly named West Branch tributary.
North Fork: The North Fork Feather River
is the Feather River's source tributary with the largest watershed area and the highest average discharge into Lake Oroville. The fork's portion of the Feather River Canyon is notable as part of the Feather River Route
, and the railroad's 1962 North Fork Bridge
near the river's mouth is the longest reinforced concrete bridge in the United States. The East Branch North Fork Feather River is the largest tributary of the North Fork, and the headwaters of the North Fork Feather watershed extend from Lassen Peak
in the Shasta Cascade
s to the east slope of Indicator Peak in the northern Sierras.
18020122) is the middle watershed of the headwaters of the Feather River basin and includes the American and Indian valleys.
East Branch: The East Branch North Fork Feather River is a left tributary of the North Fork Feather River
extending past Twain
to near Belden
. East Branch headwaters begin along ~46 mi (74 km) of the Sierra Crest
from the triple watershed point with the North Fork (Bear Valley Creek headwaters) across Diamond Mountain (Indian Creek), Black Mountain, and the Middle Fork triple point.
18020123) includes the Middle Fork Feather River, the Fall River
, and the South Fork Feather River
; as well as the Grizzly Valley
Middle Fork: The Middle Fork Feather River
drains from over 41 mi (66 km) of the Sierra Crest and from the Sierra Valley Channels through the Sierra Valley (location of its source) to the tip of the middle arm of Lake Oroville
. The channels are a number of tributaries that merge in an inverted river delta
wetland with a network of irrigation ditches and drains. From its source, the Middle fork flows through Mohawk Valley, Long Valley, and then enters a gorge before reaching the middle arm of Lake Oroville. The South Branch Middle Fork Feather River is a similarly named Middle Fork tributary.
Fall River: The Fall River
is a Lake Oroville
source tributary that drains a south portion of the Middle Fork Watershed and which enters the lake along the shore of the North Arm, 0.39 mi (0.6276426 km) from the Middle Fork's mouth at the tip of the arm. The river is notable as the source of water for Feather Falls
in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
.
South Fork: The South Fork Feather River
is a Lake Oroville
source tributary with several reservoirs in the southernmost portion of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed, including one in Little Grass Valley, California
.
The broad drainage divide of the Feather Headwaters lies northwest-to-southeast along 1) the divide with the Lower Pit Watershed
(north of the North Fork Feather Watershed), 2) the Great Basin Divide
at the Eagle
-Honey
Watershed (north & northeast of the North Fork Feather Watershed), 3) the northern Sierra Crest
(northeast of the North Fork Feather & East Branch North Fork Feather watersheds), and 4) the northern Sierra Crest
(east of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed) to the Truckee Watershed triple point in Sierra County
.
inhabitated the American and Sierra Valleys and had villages in the Big Meadows area (now Lake Almanor) and Indian Valley. The Washoe
hunted in the Sierra and Mohawk Valleys, and Paiute and Washoe settlements were in the Long Valley area. The 1849 California Gold Rush
brought thousands of prospectors and settlers to the region. The American and Indian Valleys were settled in the 1850s. In the Sierra Valley the first settlers arrived in 1852. Operations at the Lime Saddle and Coal Canyon hydroelectric powerhouses along the North Fork began August 1, 1906, and December 24, 1907. The 1909 Feather River Route
was built through the Feather River Canyon along the North Fork and East Branch and crossed under the mid-Sierra drainage divide between the East Branch and Middle Fork watersheds via the Spring Garden tunnel
. Other historical Feather River Route features (west-to-east) in the Feather Headwaters are the Keddie Wye
, Williams Loop
, Clio trestle
, & Chilcoot
Tunnel.
Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville, also known as Lake Edmonston, is a reservoir in the U.S. state of California, formed by the Oroville Dam across the Feather River. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about northeast of Oroville. At over , it is one of the largest reservoirs in California,...
. The North Fork Feather Watershed is 1090 sq mi (2,823.1 km²)—including the West Branch drainage of about 282.5 sq mi (731.7 km²). The East Branch North Fork Feather Watershed is 1010 sq mi (2,615.9 km²), and the Middle Fork Feather Watershed is 1350 sq mi (3,496.5 km²)—including the South Fork drainage of about 132 sq mi (341.9 km²). Headwaters drainage is impaired by the Palermo Canal at Oroville Dam, the Hendricks Canal at the West Branch Feather River
West Branch Feather River
The West Branch Feather River is a Lake Oroville tributary that flows generally north-to-south in the North Fork Feather Watershed near the watershed's drainage divide with the...
, and the Miners Ranch Canal at the South Fork's Ponderosa Reservoir. Additionally, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company , commonly known as PG&E, is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to most of the northern two-thirds of California, from Bakersfield almost to the Oregon border...
releases Upper Feather water into the Hyatt Generating-Pumping Plant for hydroelectric generation during daily peak demand.
North Fork Feather Watershed
The North Fork Feather Watershed (USGS hucHydrological code
A hydrological code or hydrologic unit code is a sequence of numbers or letters that identify a hydrological feature like a river, river reach, lake, or area like a drainage basin ....
18020121) includes the West Branch and North Fork rivers and receives flow from the East Branch North Fork Feather Watershed.
West Branch: The West Branch (or West Fork) Feather River
West Branch Feather River
The West Branch Feather River is a Lake Oroville tributary that flows generally north-to-south in the North Fork Feather Watershed near the watershed's drainage divide with the...
originates in Butte County and Lassen National Forest
Lassen National Forest
Lassen National Forest is a national forest of 1,700 square miles in northeastern California. It is named after pioneer Peter Lassen, who mined, ranched and promoted the area to emigrant parties in the 1850s.- Overview :...
and flows near the North Fork watershed's drainage divide with the Mills-Big Chico Watershed generally north-to-south to the northwest arm of Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville, also known as Lake Edmonston, is a reservoir in the U.S. state of California, formed by the Oroville Dam across the Feather River. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about northeast of Oroville. At over , it is one of the largest reservoirs in California,...
. The West Branch flow is impaired by a up to 125 cuft/s diverted to the 8.66 mi (13.9 km) Hendricks Canal
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company , commonly known as PG&E, is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to most of the northern two-thirds of California, from Bakersfield almost to the Oregon border...
, and the Magalia 73 Dam conveys water to the Lime Saddle and Coal Canyon powerhouses near Lake Oroville, then to a Thermalito powerplant
Oroville-Thermalito Complex
The Oroville-Thermalito Complex is a group of facilities and structures located in and around the city of Oroville, California. The complex serves as the headwaters for, and therefore is the most vital facility of, the California Department of Water Resources' State Water Project, the world's...
. The Little West Fork West Branch River is a similarly named West Branch tributary.
North Fork: The North Fork Feather River
North Fork Feather River
The North Fork Feather River is a watercourse of the northern Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California. It flows generally southwards from its headwaters near Lassen Peak to Lake Oroville, a reservoir formed by Oroville Dam in the foothills of the Sierra, where it runs into the Feather River....
is the Feather River's source tributary with the largest watershed area and the highest average discharge into Lake Oroville. The fork's portion of the Feather River Canyon is notable as part of the Feather River Route
Feather River Route
The Feather River Route is a rail line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909, and connects the cities of Oakland, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah...
, and the railroad's 1962 North Fork Bridge
North Fork Bridge
The North Fork Bridge is a railroad bridge over the North Fork Feather River. It is the longest reinforced concrete bridge in the US and was constructed after the June 1, 1957, groundbreaking for 2 rail tunnels to bypass the planned Oroville Reservoir. and the Oroville Dam site was first dynamited...
near the river's mouth is the longest reinforced concrete bridge in the United States. The East Branch North Fork Feather River is the largest tributary of the North Fork, and the headwaters of the North Fork Feather watershed extend from Lassen Peak
Lassen Peak
Lassen Peak is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range. It is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc which is an arc that stretches from northern California to southwestern British Columbia...
in the Shasta Cascade
Shasta Cascade
The Shasta Cascade region of California is located in the northeastern and north-central sections of the state bordering Oregon and Nevada, including far northern parts of the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The area is centered on Mount Shasta in the California Cascade Range,...
s to the east slope of Indicator Peak in the northern Sierras.
East Branch North Fork Feather Watershed
The East Branch Feather Watershed (USGS hucHydrological code
A hydrological code or hydrologic unit code is a sequence of numbers or letters that identify a hydrological feature like a river, river reach, lake, or area like a drainage basin ....
18020122) is the middle watershed of the headwaters of the Feather River basin and includes the American and Indian valleys.
East Branch: The East Branch North Fork Feather River is a left tributary of the North Fork Feather River
North Fork Feather River
The North Fork Feather River is a watercourse of the northern Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California. It flows generally southwards from its headwaters near Lassen Peak to Lake Oroville, a reservoir formed by Oroville Dam in the foothills of the Sierra, where it runs into the Feather River....
extending past Twain
Twain, California
Twain is a census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 82, down from 87 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Twain is located at ....
to near Belden
Belden, California
Belden is a census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States. Belden is located on the North Fork Feather River, southwest of Caribou. The population was 22 at the 2010 census, down from 26 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. East Branch headwaters begin along ~46 mi (74 km) of the Sierra Crest
Sierra Crest
The Sierra Crest is a ~ generally north-to-south ridgeline that demarcates the broad west and narrow east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and that extends as far east as the Sierra's topographic front...
from the triple watershed point with the North Fork (Bear Valley Creek headwaters) across Diamond Mountain (Indian Creek), Black Mountain, and the Middle Fork triple point.
Middle Fork Feather Watershed
The Middle Fork Feather Watershed (USGS hucHydrological code
A hydrological code or hydrologic unit code is a sequence of numbers or letters that identify a hydrological feature like a river, river reach, lake, or area like a drainage basin ....
18020123) includes the Middle Fork Feather River, the Fall River
Fall River
-Cities and towns:In Canada:*Fall River, Nova ScotiaIn the United States:*Fall River, Kansas*Fall River, Massachusetts, the largest city with this name*Fall River, Tennessee*Fall River, Wisconsin*Fall River County, South Dakota-Rivers:In Canada:...
, and the South Fork Feather River
South Fork Feather River
The South Fork Feather River is a Lake Oroville tributary in the south portion of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed which drains the Little Grass Valley, California and has several reservoirs....
; as well as the Grizzly Valley
Middle Fork Feather River
The Middle Fork Feather River is a major river in Plumas and Butte Counties in the U.S. state of California. Nearly long, it drains about of the rugged northern Sierra Nevada range....
Middle Fork: The Middle Fork Feather River
Middle Fork Feather River
The Middle Fork Feather River is a major river in Plumas and Butte Counties in the U.S. state of California. Nearly long, it drains about of the rugged northern Sierra Nevada range....
drains from over 41 mi (66 km) of the Sierra Crest and from the Sierra Valley Channels through the Sierra Valley (location of its source) to the tip of the middle arm of Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville, also known as Lake Edmonston, is a reservoir in the U.S. state of California, formed by the Oroville Dam across the Feather River. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about northeast of Oroville. At over , it is one of the largest reservoirs in California,...
. The channels are a number of tributaries that merge in an inverted river delta
Inverted river delta
An inverted river delta is special category of river delta in which the narrow end of the delta emerges on the seafront and the wide end is located further inland, so that with respect to the seafront, the locations of both ends of the delta are inverted....
wetland with a network of irrigation ditches and drains. From its source, the Middle fork flows through Mohawk Valley, Long Valley, and then enters a gorge before reaching the middle arm of Lake Oroville. The South Branch Middle Fork Feather River is a similarly named Middle Fork tributary.
Fall River: The Fall River
Fall River (Plumas County, California)
The Fall River is a Lake Oroville source tributary that drains the south portion of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed. The river enters the lake along the shore of the North Arm from the mouth of the North Fork Feather River at the tip of the arm and elevation . The river is notable as the...
is a Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville, also known as Lake Edmonston, is a reservoir in the U.S. state of California, formed by the Oroville Dam across the Feather River. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about northeast of Oroville. At over , it is one of the largest reservoirs in California,...
source tributary that drains a south portion of the Middle Fork Watershed and which enters the lake along the shore of the North Arm, 0.39 mi (0.6276426 km) from the Middle Fork's mouth at the tip of the arm. The river is notable as the source of water for Feather Falls
Feather Falls
Feather Falls is a waterfall located on the Fall River, a tributary of the Middle Fork Feather River, within the Plumas National Forest in the Sierra Nevada; in Butte County, eastern California.-Description:...
in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area is a California protected area. LOSRA "includes Lake Oroville and the surrounding lands and facilities within the project area as well as the land and waters in and around the Diversion Pool and Thermalito Forebay, downstream of Oroville Dam."-References:...
.
South Fork: The South Fork Feather River
South Fork Feather River
The South Fork Feather River is a Lake Oroville tributary in the south portion of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed which drains the Little Grass Valley, California and has several reservoirs....
is a Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville
Lake Oroville, also known as Lake Edmonston, is a reservoir in the U.S. state of California, formed by the Oroville Dam across the Feather River. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about northeast of Oroville. At over , it is one of the largest reservoirs in California,...
source tributary with several reservoirs in the southernmost portion of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed, including one in Little Grass Valley, California
Little Grass Valley, California
Little Grass Valley is a lake located in Plumas County, California, USA. As of the 2010 census, the census-designated place had a total population of 2.-Geography:Little Grass Valley is located at 39°42'59" North, 120°58'35" West ....
.
The broad drainage divide of the Feather Headwaters lies northwest-to-southeast along 1) the divide with the Lower Pit Watershed
Pit River
The Pit River is a major river draining from northeastern California into the state's Central Valley. The Pit, the Klamath and the Columbia are the only three rivers in the U.S...
(north of the North Fork Feather Watershed), 2) the Great Basin Divide
Great Basin Divide
The Great Basin Divide is the western continental divide that separates the Great Basin from the Pacific Ocean watershed. The water divide is the perimeter of the largest set of contiguous endorheic watersheds of North America, including six entire USGS watershed subregions...
at the Eagle
Eagle Lake
-Cities, towns, townships etc.:Canada* Eagle Lake, Haliburton County, Ontario* Eagle Lake, Parry Sound District, Ontario* Eagle Lake 27, Ontario United States* Eagle Lake, Florida* Eagle Lake, Maine* Eagle Lake, Minnesota* Eagle Lake, Texas...
-Honey
Honey Lake
Honey Lake is an endorheic sink within the Honey Lake Valley located in northeastern California, near the Nevada border. Summer evaporation reduces the lake to a lower level of 12 km² and creates an alkali flat....
Watershed (north & northeast of the North Fork Feather Watershed), 3) the northern Sierra Crest
Sierra Crest
The Sierra Crest is a ~ generally north-to-south ridgeline that demarcates the broad west and narrow east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and that extends as far east as the Sierra's topographic front...
(northeast of the North Fork Feather & East Branch North Fork Feather watersheds), and 4) the northern Sierra Crest
Sierra Crest
The Sierra Crest is a ~ generally north-to-south ridgeline that demarcates the broad west and narrow east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and that extends as far east as the Sierra's topographic front...
(east of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed) to the Truckee Watershed triple point in Sierra County
Sierra County, California
Sierra County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,240, down from 3,555 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Downieville....
.
History
The MaiduMaidu
The Maidu are a group of Native Americans who live in Northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada, in the drainage area of the Feather and American Rivers...
inhabitated the American and Sierra Valleys and had villages in the Big Meadows area (now Lake Almanor) and Indian Valley. The Washoe
Washoe people
The Washoe are a Great Basin tribe of Native Americans, living in California and Nevada. The name "Washoe" is derived from the autonym waashiw meaning "people from here" in the Washo language .-Territory:Washoe people have lived in the Great Basin for at least the last 6000 years...
hunted in the Sierra and Mohawk Valleys, and Paiute and Washoe settlements were in the Long Valley area. The 1849 California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
brought thousands of prospectors and settlers to the region. The American and Indian Valleys were settled in the 1850s. In the Sierra Valley the first settlers arrived in 1852. Operations at the Lime Saddle and Coal Canyon hydroelectric powerhouses along the North Fork began August 1, 1906, and December 24, 1907. The 1909 Feather River Route
Feather River Route
The Feather River Route is a rail line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909, and connects the cities of Oakland, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah...
was built through the Feather River Canyon along the North Fork and East Branch and crossed under the mid-Sierra drainage divide between the East Branch and Middle Fork watersheds via the Spring Garden tunnel
Spring Garden, California
Spring Garden is a census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 16 at the 2010 census, down from 55 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Spring Garden is located at ....
. Other historical Feather River Route features (west-to-east) in the Feather Headwaters are the Keddie Wye
Keddie Wye
The Keddie Wye is a favorite railfan spot at a wye along the Feather River Route, located at Keddie, California, named after Arthur Keddie. Mr. Keddie purchased the survey rights and the right to build a railroad through the Feather River Canyon from George Jay Gould I, the son of Jay Gould...
, Williams Loop
Williams Loop
The Williams Loop is a rail spiral located on the Union Pacific Railroad's Feather River Route through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in north eastern California, connecting the Sacramento Valley to Salt Lake City via the Feather River valley...
, Clio trestle
Clio trestle
The Clio Trestle, a historic Feather River Route railroad trestle, is a favorite railfan spot located in the Sierra Nevada near Clio, in Plumas County, California...
, & Chilcoot
Chilcoot-Vinton, California
Chilcoot-Vinton is a census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 454 at the 2010 census, up from 387 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chilcoot-Vinton is located at ....
Tunnel.