Smith River (Pacific Ocean, California)

Smith River
Location of the Smith River
Data
Water code	US :  253899
location	Del Norte County in California (USA)
Confluence of	North Fork and Middle Fork Smith River at Gasquet 41 ° 50 ′ 52 "  N , 123 ° 58 ′ 8"  W
Source height	96  m
muzzle	20 km north of Crescent City in the Pacific Coordinates: 41 ° 56 ′ 49 "  N , 124 ° 12 ′ 18"  W 41 ° 56 ′ 49 "  N , 124 ° 12 ′ 18"  W
Mouth height	0  m
Height difference	96 m
Bottom slope	2.4 ‰
length	40 km
Catchment area	approx. 1877 km²
Discharge at the gauge at Hiouchi A Eo : 1590 km² Location: 25 km above the mouth	MQ 1932/2016 Mq 1932/2016	105 m³ / s 66 l / (s km²)
Left tributaries	South Fork Smith River
Communities	Gasquet, Hiouchi
National Wild and Scenic River
Confluence of the South Fork Smith River (on the right)

North Fork Smith River
Water code	US :  264212
location	Del Norte County in California, Curry County in Oregon (USA)
Headwaters	Kalmiopsis Wilderness 42 ° 8 ′ 16 ″  N , 123 ° 56 ′ 49 ″  W.
Source height	approx.  1150  m
Association with	Middle Fork Smith River 41 ° 50 ′ 52 "  N , 123 ° 58 ′ 8"  W.
Mouth height	96  m
Height difference	approx. 1054 m
Bottom slope	approx. 26 ‰
length	40 km
National Wild and Scenic River

Middle Fork Smith River
US Highway 199 on the Middle Fork Smith River
Data
Water code	US :  267005
location	Del Norte County in California (USA)
Headwaters	Siskiyou Mountains 41 ° 51 ′ 36 "  N , 123 ° 39 ′ 18"  W.
Source height	approx.  1350  m
Association with	North Fork Smith River 41 ° 50 ′ 52 "  N , 123 ° 58 ′ 8"  W.
Mouth height	96  m
Height difference	approx. 1254 m
Bottom slope	approx. 31 ‰
length	40 km
National Wild and Scenic River

South Fork Smith River
South Fork Smith River 15 km southeast of Hiouchi
Data
Water code	US :  267506
location	Del Norte County in California (USA)
Headwaters	Siskiyou Mountains 41 ° 47 ′ 43 "  N , 123 ° 40 ′ 44"  W.
Source height	approx.  1350  m
muzzle	Smith River 41 ° 47 '43 "  N , 124 ° 3' 25"  W.
Mouth height	40  m
Height difference	approx. 1310 m
Bottom slope	approx. 20 ‰
length	64 km
National Wild and Scenic River

The Smith River is a 40 km long river in Del Norte County in the extreme northwest of the US state California . The Smith River was named after the adventurer and trapper Jedediah Smith , who explored the region in 1828.

The Smith River is formed at Gasquet at the confluence of the North Fork and Middle Fork Smith River . It initially flows 5 kilometers to the west, then 7 kilometers to the south-southwest. The South Fork Smith River flows into the river from the left. The Smith River flows west past Hiouchi and then turns north-northwest. The Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is located on the left bank. The Smith River leaves the hill country and flows into the Pacific Ocean 20 km north of Crescent City . At its mouth, the river forms a long estuary that runs parallel to the coast. The village of Smith River is located 2 km east of the estuary on US Highway 101 . US Highway 199 runs along the river between Gasquet and Hiouchi . The approximately 1877 km² large catchment area (of which about 1579 km² in California and 298 km² in Oregon ) extends over the Klamath Mountains and includes parts of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Six Rivers National Forest as well as the Smith River National Recreation Area . In the south it borders on the catchment area of ​​the Klamath River , in the north on that of the Chetco River and Rogue River .

ecology

The Smith River and its tributaries have been classified as a National Wild and Scenic River since 1981 . The river system is free of dams and largely original. The largely mountainous catchment area is heavily forested. The rivers offer spawning grounds for various salmonids such as cutthroat trout , steelhead trout , king salmon and silver salmon . Furthermore, white water sports can be practiced on the larger rivers if there is sufficient water flow .

Hydrometry

Mean monthly discharge of the Smith River (in m³ / s) at the gauge near Crescent City
measured from 1932–2016

Tributaries

The North Fork Smith River is the right headwaters of the Smith River. The 40 km long river has its source in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in Curry County in Oregon , from where it flows in a predominantly south-southwest direction to Gasquet.

The Middle Fork Smith River is the left headwaters of the Smith River. The 40 km long river has its source in the Siskiyou Mountains . It flows mainly in a westerly direction to Gasquet. US Highway 199 runs along the river for the lower 22 kilometers of the river.

The South Fork Smith River is a 40 miles long left tributary of the Smith River, which flows into it above Hiouchi. The headwaters are located on the western slope of the 1955  m high Bear Mountain in the Siskiyou Mountains. The South Fork Smith River initially flows south-southwest. After about 25 km the river turns to the northwest.

Web links

Commons : Smith River  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Middle Fork Smith River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
2. ^ ^{A b c} Smith River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
3. ↑ ^{a b} SJR-3 Smith River watershed protection. (2015-2016) . California Legislative Information. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
4. ↑ ^{a b} USGS 11532500 SMITH R NR CRESCENT CITY CA
5. ^ North Fork Smith River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
6. ^ ^{A b} South Fork Smith River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
7. ↑ ^{a b} Smith River, California . National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
8. ^ ^{A b c} Smith River (North Fork), Oregon . National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved August 31, 2017.