Mowich River

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Mowich River
South Mowich River
Data
GNIS ID US :  1523456 , US :  1526295
location Pierce County , Washington , USA
River system Puyallup River
Drain over Puyallup River  → Puget Sound
source South Mowich Glacier on Mount Rainier
46 ° 52 ′ 19 ″  N , 121 ° 49 ′ 34 ″  W
Source height 2134  m
muzzle Puyallup River Coordinates: 46 ° 54 '2 "  N , 122 ° 1' 49"  W 46 ° 54 '2 "  N , 122 ° 1' 49"  W.
Mouth height 512  m
Height difference 1622 m
Bottom slope 34 ‰
length 48 km
Left tributaries Rushingwater Creek
Right tributaries North Mowich River
Georeferencing Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap

The Mowich River is a river in Pierce County , Washington state . Its catchment area drains part of the west side of Mount Rainier , part of the Cascade Range . The river has two main source rivers , the South Mowich River and North River Mowich. The South Mowich is significantly larger and is sometimes mistaken for the main stream. The Mowich and its tributaries divert water from several glaciers on Mount Rainier. The upper part of its catchment area lies within the Mount Rainier National Park . In the western foothills of Mount Rainier, the river flows into the Puyallup River .

The name "Mowich" corresponds to the Chinook Wawa word for "deer". It was originally used for Mowich Lake and later extended to the river and glacier.

Source rivers

The meltwater from Edmunds Glacier , South Mowich Glacier, and North Mowich Glacier of Mount Rainier feed the northern and southern branches of the Mowich River. Other rivers arise on glaciers immediately south and north of those of the Mowich River. In the south, the Puyallup Glacier feeds the Puyallup River, while in the north the Carbon Glacier creates the Carbon River .

South Mowich River

The tributaries to the upper reaches of the South Mowich River flow from a highland called Jeanette Heights. The river, formed from meltwater from the South Mowich and Edmunds glaciers, flows a few miles northwest. Several (unnamed) glacier-fed streams are picked up by the South Mowich River on its way to its confluence with the North Mowich. The confluence lies within Mount Rainier National Park on its western border.

Another highland, the plateau-like Sunset Park, lies exactly southwest of the South Mowich River. The Wonderland Trail passes Sunset Park, descends to the valley of the South Mowich River, and crosses it just above the confluence of the northern and southern branches. The Wonderland Trail then crosses the North Mowich River and climbs up to Mowich Lake and another highlands called Spray Park.

North Mowich River

North Mowich River
GNIS ID US :  1523896
source North Mowich Glacier
46 ° 53 ′ 18 ″  N , 121 ° 50 ′ 6 ″  W.
confluence just below the confluence of Crater Creek with the South Mowich River to the Mowich River
46 ° 54 ′ 54 ″  N , 121 ° 53 ′ 43 ″  W

Right tributaries Spray Creek , Crater Creek
forms the Moraine Falls and Giant Falls

The tributaries to the upper reaches of the North Mowich River drain the North Mowich Glacier near an area on Mount Rainier called Division Rook. Just below the foot of the glacier, the river tumbles over a large wall and forms the Moraine Falls, the first of two waterfalls on the river; both are very difficult to reach by walking several days. The Giant Falls, just as difficult to access, are located below the Moraine Falls. The Ptarmigan Ridge separates the headwaters of the North Mowich River from Spray Park, much of which is drained by other tributaries of the North Mowich River. Spray Creek has its source in Spray Park, thunders over Spray Falls and unites other streams to form a tributary called Grant Creek. Spray Creek then flows down from Spray Park and along a steep slope (Eagle Cliff), after which it flows into the river.

Just below the tributary of Spray Creek, the North Mowich River joins Crater Creek, which flows north from Mowich Lake a few miles. Several tributaries, many of which drain Spray Park, flow into Crater Creek. The North and South Mowich Rivers converge just below.

Actual Mowich River

After North Mowich and South Mowich have formed the actual Mowich River, it flows westward. It passes Paul Peak in the north and then leaves Mount Rainier National Park. Meadow Creek flows into it just outside the park boundaries. The Mowich River then flows north north of Martin Peak before turning southwest and flowing through a wide, glacier-shaped valley. Rushingwater Creek reaches the Mowich River just before it flows into the Puyallup River.

Tributaries

South Mowich River

  • no major inflows

North Mowich River

Actual Mowich River

  • Meadow Creek
  • Rushingwater Creek

geology

Shaped by glacial meltwater, the Mowich River contains a significant sediment load of mud and gravel. After descending from the upper slopes of Mount Rainier, the Mowich River flows through a wide glacier-shaped valley where heavy sediment deposits form sand and gravel banks in the river bed , making the river intricately intertwined and meandering .

As with other rivers that rise high on Mount Rainier, the Mowich River Valley, like the Puyallup River Valley, is severely threatened by lahars .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ South Mowich River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
  2. ↑ James W. Phillips: Washington State Place Names . University of Washington Press, 1971, ISBN 0-295-95158-3 .
  3. ^ Moraine Falls, Pierce County, Washington - Northwest Waterfall Survey . Watefallsnorthwest.com. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  4. ^ Giant Falls, Pierce County, Washington - Northwest Waterfall Survey . Watefallsnorthwest.com. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ Course info mainly from: Washington Road & Recreation Atlas . Benchmark Maps, 2000. and Topozone.com
  6. ^ David A. Knoblach: Flood Control along the Lower Puyallup River . 2000. Archived from the original on September 13, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2007.

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