Metolius River.html |
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| Metolius River | |
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| Origin | Metolius Springs 1 |
| Mouth | Lake Billy Chinook Coordinates: |
| Length | 29 mi (47 km) |
| Source elevation | 3,000 ft (910 m) |
| Mouth elevation | 1,945 ft (593 m) |
| Basin area | 315 sq mi (820 km2) |
The Metolius River is a tributary of Lake Billy Chinook in Central Oregon, United States, near the city of Sisters. The river flows north from springs near Black Butte, then turns sharply east, descending through a series of gorges before flowing into the western end of the lake. The unincorporated community of Camp Sherman lies astride the southern end of the river.
The river's drainage basin is 315 square miles (820 km2) in area and contains 110 miles of perennial streams, 324 miles of intermittent streams, 42 lakes, and 121 ponds.2
Contents |
Headwaters
The headwaters of the river are at Metolius Springs, where the river emerges from two clusters of springs, about 200 feet apart. The springs are at the base of Black Butte. Water flows to these springs from the drainage basin around Black Butte Ranch, several miles to the south. The elevation of the drainage basin is 300 feet above that of the springs, forming a natural standpipe that tends stabilize the river's rate of flow.3
As a consequence, the water level in the Metolius River is relatively constant. The rate of flow at the headwaters is approximately 190 m³/min (6,700 ft³/min or 50,000 gallons per minute), although it grows by an additional 2,300 m³/min (80,000 ft³/min or 600,000 gallons per minute) by the time the river reaches at Lake Billy Chinook. Similarly, the water temperature is also quite stable; at the river source, the water temperature is consistently 48ºF (8.9ºC).4
Course
The Metolius River flows 28.6 miles from Metolius Springs through the Deschutes National Forest, emptying into Lake Billy Chinook and ultimately the Deschutes River. The upper 11.5 miles of the river is a popular destination for catch-and-release fishing, whitewater rafting, picnicking, and camping. The lower 17 miles is on the boundary of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, and is a primitive area where motorized vehicles are not allowed. Because of its scenic beauty, the Metolius River was officially designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1988.56
Recreation
Facilities along the upper river include a number of developed campgrounds, hiking trails, and picnic areas, while rafters use the Class III-IV rapids there. There are popular sport fisheries for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Only hatchery-bred fish can be taken from the upper river. Additional fishing restrictions apply to specific areas along the river, including the Metolius Springs area. A number of small resorts and other shops and services cater to fishermen and other visitors, principally in the community of Camp Sherman.57
The Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery is also located approximately 10 6 miles (10 km) north of the headwaters. This hatchery raises rainbow trout, kokanee, and Atlantic salmon. The hatchery is in a park-like setting, with display ponds, interpretive signs, and a viewing platform.7
There is also a number of summer homes along the Metolius River. Many of these are on United States Forest Service land, which is allowed under provisions of a 1915 act of Congress that opened Forest Service lands for summer cabin permits. In the Metolius area, the permits all stipulate that cabins must be built at least 50 feet back from the edge of the river to allow the public access to the river. Today, Forest Service trails run in front of the cabins along both banks of the river.7
Coordinate sequence
Coordinates from GNIS list one point per 7.5 minute map. The source and mouth are not repeated here.
| seq num | location | usgs map |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Fly Creek | |
| 3 | Metolius Bench | |
| 4 | Shitike Butte | |
| 5 | Prairie Farm Spring | |
| 6 | Candle Creek |
See also
References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Metolius River
- ^ Deschutes Subbasin Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
- ^ "The Ore Bin, Volume 34, No. 3, March 1972, p. 51". Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
- ^ "The Ore Bin, Volume 34, No. 3, March 1972, p. 43". Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
- ^ a b "Metolius River, Oregon", Public Land Information Center, Public Lands Interpretive Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2008.
- ^ “Metolius, Oregon”, Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Public Law 90-542 (as amended), 16 United State Code 1271-1287, 8 August 2002.
- ^ a b c "Camp Sherman", Metolius Recreation Association, Online Highway.com, Camp Sherman, Oregon, 24 August 2008.