Stehekin River

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Stehekin River
The Stehekin River near the Buckner Hof

The Stehekin River near the Buckner Hof

Data
Water code US1526532
location Chelan County , Washington , USA
River system Columbia River
Drain over Chelan River  → Columbia River  → Pacific
source Cascade chain
48 ° 27 ′ 15 ″  N , 121 ° 2 ′ 24 ″  W.
muzzle Lake Chelan Coordinates: 48 ° 19 ′ 10 "  N , 120 ° 40 ′ 35"  W 48 ° 19 ′ 10 "  N , 120 ° 40 ′ 35"  W.
Mouth height 336  m

length 27.9 km
Catchment area 831.4 km²
Discharge at the river kilometer 2.3 gauge in Stehekin NNQ
MNQ
MHQ
1.6 m³ / s
39.7 m³ / s
509.7 m³ / s

The Stehekin River is a river in Chelan County , Washington state . It is the main tributary of Lake Chelan . Miners reached the Stehekin River Valley in the late 19th century. They were followed by settlers who set up individual farms. Even today, the Stehekin River Valley is a remote area that can only be reached by a 90-km boat ride across Lake Chelan.

The name of the river is derived from the word stx w íkn 'from the Columbia-Moses , which means "the way through".

course

The Stehekin River has its source in the Northern Cascade Range near Cascade Pass in the North Cascades National Park . It collects the water of several headwaters such as Pelton Creek , Doubtful Creek and Basin Creek . Main peaks near the sources are Boston Peak , Buckner Mountain , Booker Mountain , Sahale Mountain , Cascade Peak , Mix-up Peak, and Hurry-up Peak .

The Stehekin River generally flows westward from these mountains and south-west south of Park Creek Ridge to its confluence with Park Creek . Just below Park Creek , the river takes in Bridge Creek , one of its major tributaries. The Bridge Creek comes from the north and drains the extreme north of the Chelan County in North Cascades National Park . The Bridge Creek and its tributaries carry water from several major mountain ranges such are the Goode Mountain , the Storm King , the Mount Logan and the Black Peak. The source of Bridge Creek is near Rainy Pass and Washington Pass on Washington State Route 20 . The Stehekin River generally continues southeast to the northwest end of Lake Chelan. Shortly before reaching the lake, it takes the Agnes Creek coming from the west, another main tributary. The Agnes Creek drains the extreme north of the Wenatchee National Forest . The final mile of his run marks the boundary between North Cascades National Park and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area .

At the mouth of Agnes Creek , the Stehekin River leaves the national park and enters the National Recreation Area . The Stehekin River flows into Lake Chelan near Stehekin , a small community that is only accessible by boat. Roads from Stehekin follow the river up most of the valley. There are several campsites. The Pacific Crest Trail reaches the Stehekin River Basin from the south via Suiattle Pass , runs South Fork Agnes Creek and Agnes Creek down to Stehekin River, then Stehekin up to Bridge Creek and Bridge Creek up to Rainy Pass .

colonization

Because the region is so remote, the Stehekin River Valley remained uninhabited until the 1880s. At this time, miners began to invade the region in search of wealth. Between 1887 and 1910 a considerable number reached the valley in search of ore deposits in the Northern Cascade Range. By 1890 there was a relatively large Stehekin Hotel on Lake Chelan at the mouth of the Stehekin River. The hotel was used as accommodation for tourists and fishermen as well as miners.

Over the centuries, the Stehekin River deposited fertile alluvial sediments on the valley floor when it was moved. however, it also left behind large boulders that made agricultural use difficult. Nonetheless, some early settlers began farming and setting up farms in the valley around 1910. The most sought-after areas were along the Stehekin River and its tributaries, as these provided reliable water supplies for agriculture and natural transportation routes to Lake Chelan. The Buckner Hof was one of the first on the Stehekin River. He is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places .

Due to the severe winters, few settlers stayed in the valley all year round. In the fall, most of the farmers left the area and chose to winter in less isolated places like Chelan. In the spring, the families returned to their farms in the Stehekin Valley . Many of the early settlers supplemented their incomes by taking miners into the hinterland and bringing goods to the remote claims. The first school in the valley opened in 1902 in a cabin near the Lake Chelan bank. It was later replaced by a structure known as the Kronk Cabin . Today this hut is the oldest school building in the Stehekin Valley . As more families settled, the need for a new school building became apparent. In 1921 the residents chose a location for the new school. The school building was made as a log cabin that was built by volunteers on site. The Stehekin School still exists and is on the National Register of Historic Places .

When mining declined, subsistence farming, logging, and tourism formed the basis for the residents of the Stehekin Valley to remain . Apples were an important culture in the first half of the 20th century. In winter, hunting and trapping were a part of the life of the year-round residents. Possibly the most significant economic event in the valley was the arrival of the United States Forest Service . With the formation of the Stehekin Ranger District in 1905, a reliable source of income for the valley dwellers was established.

Even today, the Stehekin Valley is pretty isolated. There are barely a hundred permanent residents, most of them employed by the National Park Service. The only way into the valley is a 90 km boat ride across Lake Chelan. In summer two boats run regularly between Chelan and Stehekin. In winter this service is limited to two trips a week.

recreation

Since the region has been part of the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area , summer tourism has been a high priority. The Stehekin River is scenic and remote; opportunities for white water rafting and kayaking are available. There are a number of campsites along the river. The Stehekin River is known for its excellent fly fishing opportunities. Rainbow and cut throat trout are most successfully angled in spring, while sockeye salmon are popular with anglers in autumn.

Tributaries

These are the main tributaries of the Stehekin River:

Bridge Creek
Boulder Creek near its confluence with the Stehekin River
Rainbow Falls on Rainbow Creek
  • Agnes Creek
  • Arrow Creek
  • Basin Creek
  • Battalion Creek
  • Blackberry Creek
  • Boulder Creek
  • Bridge Creek
  • Buzzard Creek
  • Cabin Creek
  • Canim Creek
  • Clear Creek
  • Company Creek
  • Coon Creek
  • Cottonwood Creek
  • Doubtful Creek
  • Flat Creek
  • Junction Creek
  • Margerum Creek
  • McGregor Creek
  • Moon Creek
  • Park Creek
  • Pelton Creek
  • Rainbow Creek
  • Sun Creek
  • Theis Creek
  • Tolo Creek

See also

Individual evidence

  1. Stehekin River in the United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
  2. ^ Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005; Methow and Chelan River Basins and the Columbia River from Bridgeport to Wells Dam; 12451000 Stehekin River at Stehekin, WA . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  3. ^ William Bright: Native American placenames of the United States . University of Oklahoma Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4 , p. 461.
  4. ^ Bill Gulick: A Traveler's History of Washington . Caxton Press, Caldwell, Idaho 1996, ISBN 0-87004-371-4 , p. 345.
  5. Course info mainly from USGS topographic maps and Washington Road & Recreation Atlas , Fourth. Edition, Benchmark Maps, 2007, ISBN 978-0-929591-98-8 .
  6. a b c d e f Luxenberg, Gretchen A., Corridors of Settlement: Stehekin Valley , Historic Resource Study , North Cascades National Park Service Complex, National Park Service, United States Department of Interior, Seattle, Washington, 1986.
  7. ^ Luxenberg, Gretchen A., Buckner , Historic Resource Study , North Cascades National Park Service Complex, National Park Service, United States Department of Interior, Seattle, Washington, 1986.
  8. ^ Stehekin River , Washington State Tourism Office, experiencewa.com , Bellingham, Washington, June 18, 2009.
  9. Stehekin River ( Memento of the original from July 10, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , North Central Washington Portal, ncwportal.com , June 18, 2009. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / ncwportal.com