Lyre River
Encyclopedia
The Lyre River is a river in Washington, USA that flows out of Lake Crescent
in the Olympic National Park
and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Originally referred to as "singing waters" by the Indians living near it, the river was first named Rio de Cuesta by Europeans in 1790 by Gonzalo López de Haro
, but was later called River Lyre after being charted by Captain Henry Kellett
in 1847.
on the left. At River Mile
2.7 (coor= 48.12348 -123.82684) the river tumbles down the Lyre River Falls, which are impassable to fish migrating upstream. Continuing north, the river is joined by Susie Creek on the left, and finally Nelson Creek on the right before emptying into the Strait of Juan de Fuca
at Low Point.
, which is found nowhere else. Below the falls that are 3 miles (5 km) upriver from the mouth, the river supports stocks of Sea run cutthroat
, as well as winter and summer steelhead.
tribe had settlements along the river as well, including the fishing village of Kwahamish.
By the early 1890s, John Smith had taken up a claim at Piedmont
; John Hanson and his wife Mary Laeger Hanson had homesteaded near the head of the Lyre River. From 1889 through the 1920s, there was a settlement named Gettysburg on the east side of the mouth of the river. Gettysburg was founded as a logging town by Robert Getty and had a population of 65 in 1910. It also had a post office.
The Lyre River Campground is administered by the Washington Department of Natural Resources
near the mouth of the river.
Lake Crescent
Lake Crescent is a deep lake located entirely within Olympic National Park in Clallam County, Washington, United States, approximately west of Port Angeles, Washington on U.S. Route 101 and nearby to the small community of Piedmont...
in the Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is located in the U.S. state of Washington, in the Olympic Peninsula. The park can be divided into four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side. U.S...
and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Originally referred to as "singing waters" by the Indians living near it, the river was first named Rio de Cuesta by Europeans in 1790 by Gonzalo López de Haro
Gonzalo López de Haro
Gonzalo López de Haro was a Spanish explorer, notable for his expeditions in the Pacific Northwest in the late 18th century....
, but was later called River Lyre after being charted by Captain Henry Kellett
Henry Kellett
Vice Admiral Sir Henry Kellett KCB was a British naval officer and explorer.-Naval career:Kellett joined the Royal Navy in 1822...
in 1847.
Course
The Lyre River flows roughly northwest out of Lake Crescent, first encountering June Creek, then turning north at the point that is joined by Boundary CreekBoundary Creek
Boundary Creek is a creek located in the Boundary Country region of British Columbia. The creek is a tributary of the Kettle River. Boundary Creek flows into the Kettle River from the northeast and was the first creek found to be gold bearing in the Boundary Country. It was discovered in 1859 by...
on the left. 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...
2.7 (coor= 48.12348 -123.82684) the river tumbles down the Lyre River Falls, which are impassable to fish migrating upstream. Continuing north, the river is joined by Susie Creek on the left, and finally Nelson Creek on the right before emptying into the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
at Low Point.
Ecology
The first few hundred feet of the river as it flows out of the lake provide spawning habitat for the Beardslee troutBeardslee trout
Beardslee trout are a local form of Rainbow trout endemic to Lake Crescent in Washington. By some sources, they are treated as a subspecies....
, which is found nowhere else. Below the falls that are 3 miles (5 km) upriver from the mouth, the river supports stocks of Sea run cutthroat
Coastal cutthroat trout
The coastal cutthroat trout also known as the sea run cutthroat, or harvest trout are a subspecies of cutthroat trout with an anadromous life history....
, as well as winter and summer steelhead.
History
The Makah tribe considered the Lyre to be their eastern boundary, though members of the Elwha KlallamKlallam
Klallam refers to four related indigenous Native American/First Nations communities from the Pacific Northwest of North America. The Klallam culture is classified ethnographically and linguistically in the Coast Salish subgroup...
tribe had settlements along the river as well, including the fishing village of Kwahamish.
By the early 1890s, John Smith had taken up a claim at Piedmont
Piedmont, Washington
Piedmont is a small unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It is located on Lake Crescent in the northwestern corner of the Olympic National Park. Because of its convenient location near Port Angeles, Piedmont has become an important recreational area.Settler John...
; John Hanson and his wife Mary Laeger Hanson had homesteaded near the head of the Lyre River. From 1889 through the 1920s, there was a settlement named Gettysburg on the east side of the mouth of the river. Gettysburg was founded as a logging town by Robert Getty and had a population of 65 in 1910. It also had a post office.
The Lyre River Campground is administered by the Washington Department of Natural Resources
Washington Department of Natural Resources
The Washington Department of Natural Resources manage over of forest, range, agricultural, and commercial lands for the people of Washington State. DNR also manages of aquatic areas which include shorelines, tidelands, lands under Puget Sound and the coast, and navigable lakes and rivers...
near the mouth of the river.