West Fork Little Kanawha River
Encyclopedia
The West Fork Little Kanawha River is a tributary
of the Little Kanawha River
, 48.1 miles (77.4 km) long, in west-central West Virginia
in the United States
. Via the Little Kanawha and Ohio
rivers, it is part of the watershed
of the Mississippi River
, draining an area of 246 square miles (637.1 km²) in a rural region on the unglaciated
portion of the Allegheny Plateau
. By drainage area, it is the second-largest tributary of the Little Kanawha River, after the Hughes River
.
The West Fork rises southwest of the community of Nebo
in northern Clay County
and flows generally north-northwestward through Calhoun County
and along a portion of Calhoun County's western boundary with Roane
and Wirt
counties, through the communites of Nebo, Stinson
, Chloe
, Minnora
, Orma
, Arnoldsburg
, and Rocksdale
, to its mouth at Creston
in southeastern Wirt County, where it flows into the Little Kanawha River from the south. For most of its course upstream of Arnoldsburg, it is paralleled by West Virginia Route 16; for a short distance downstream of Arnoldsburg, it is paralleled by U.S. Route 33
.
Among the West Fork's tributaries are the Left Fork West Fork Little Kanawha River, which it collects at Orma; and the Henry Fork
, which it collects along the boundary of Roane and Calhoun counties.
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 91% of the West Fork's watershed is forest
ed, mostly deciduous
. Approximately 8.8% is used for pasture and agriculture.
's stream gauge
on the West Fork at Rocksdale, downstream of the mouth of the Henry Fork, the highest recorded flow during the period 1928-2009 was 20,200 ft³/s (572 m³/s) on April 16, 1939. Periods of no flow were recorded during several years.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Little Kanawha River
Little Kanawha River
The Little Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, 169 mi long, in western West Virginia in the United States. Via the Ohio, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,320 mi² on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau...
, 48.1 miles (77.4 km) long, in west-central West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Little Kanawha and Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
rivers, it is part of the 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...
of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, draining an area of 246 square miles (637.1 km²) in a rural region on the unglaciated
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
portion of the Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
. By drainage area, it is the second-largest tributary of the Little Kanawha River, after the Hughes River
Hughes River (West Virginia)
The Hughes River is a tributary of the Little Kanawha River in western West Virginia in the United States. Via the Little Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
.
The West Fork rises southwest of the community of Nebo
Nebo, Clay County, West Virginia
Nebo is an unincorporated community in Clay County, West Virginia, United States. Nebo is located on West Virginia Route 16, north-northeast of Clay, along the West Fork Little Kanawha River near its source. Nebo has a post office with ZIP code 25141....
in northern Clay County
Clay County, West Virginia
-External links:***...
and flows generally north-northwestward through Calhoun County
Calhoun County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,582 people, 3,071 households, and 2,201 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 3,848 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
and along a portion of Calhoun County's western boundary with Roane
Roane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
and Wirt
Wirt County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,873 people, 2,284 households, and 1,699 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 3,266 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
counties, through the communites of Nebo, Stinson
Stinson, West Virginia
Stinson is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 16 and the West Fork Little Kanawha River, to the south of the town of Grantsville, the county seat of Calhoun County. Its elevation is 823 feet...
, Chloe
Chloe, West Virginia
Chloe is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 16 and the West Fork Little Kanawha River, to the south of the town of Grantsville, the county seat of Calhoun County. Its elevation is 794 feet . Although it is...
, Minnora
Minnora, West Virginia
Minnora is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, West Virginia, United States. Minnora is located on West Virginia Route 16 and the West Fork Little Kanawha River south of Grantsville....
, Orma
Orma, West Virginia
Orma is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 16 and the West Fork Little Kanawha River, to the south of the town of Grantsville, the county seat of Calhoun County. Its elevation is 738 feet . Although it is...
, Arnoldsburg
Arnoldsburg, West Virginia
Arnoldsburg is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 33 at the point where West Virginia Route 16 heads southward, to the south of the town of Grantsville, the county seat of Calhoun County. Its elevation is 738 feet . The West...
, and Rocksdale
Rocksdale, West Virginia
Rocksdale is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, West Virginia, United States. Rocksdale is located along County Route 9 at the confluence of the Henry Fork and the West Fork Little Kanawha River, east-northeast of Spencer....
, to its mouth at Creston
Creston, West Virginia
Creston is an unincorporated community in southeastern Wirt County, West Virginia, United States. It lies at the confluence of the Little Kanawha River and the West Fork Little Kanawha River on West Virginia Route 5, southeast of the town of Elizabeth, the county seat of Wirt County. Its...
in southeastern Wirt County, where it flows into the Little Kanawha River from the south. For most of its course upstream of Arnoldsburg, it is paralleled by West Virginia Route 16; for a short distance downstream of Arnoldsburg, it is paralleled by U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 is a United States federal highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S...
.
Among the West Fork's tributaries are the Left Fork West Fork Little Kanawha River, which it collects at Orma; and the Henry Fork
Henry Fork (West Virginia)
The Henry Fork is a tributary of the West Fork Little Kanawha River, long, in west-central West Virginia in the United States. Via the West Fork and the Little Kanawha and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of in a rural region on the unglaciated...
, which it collects along the boundary of Roane and Calhoun counties.
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 91% of the West Fork's watershed is forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed, mostly deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
. Approximately 8.8% is used for pasture and agriculture.
Flow rate
At the United States Geological SurveyUnited 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,...
's 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...
on the West Fork at Rocksdale, downstream of the mouth of the Henry Fork, the highest recorded flow during the period 1928-2009 was 20,200 ft³/s (572 m³/s) on April 16, 1939. Periods of no flow were recorded during several years.