South Fork John Day River

South Fork John Day River
River
South Fork John Day River at Dayville
Name origin: John Day, fur trapper
Country United States
State Oregon
County Harney, Grant
Source
 - location near Alsup Mountain, Malheur National Forest, Harney County, Oregon
 - elevation 5,396 ft (1,645 m) [1]
 - coordinates  [2]
Mouth John Day River
 - location Dayville, Grant County, Oregon
 - elevation 2,326 ft (709 m) [2]
 - coordinates  [2]
Length 60 mi (97 km) [3]
Discharge for Dayville, Oregon, near mouth
 - average 179 cu ft/s (5 m3/s) [4]
Location of the mouth of the South Fork John Day River in Oregon

The South Fork John Day River is a 60-mile (97 km) tributary of the John Day River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins in the Malheur National Forest in Harney County about 25 miles (40 km) north-northwest of Burns and flows generally north to Dayville, where it meets the main stem of the John Day River. Along the way, the stream passes through the abandoned town of Izee. Black Canyon Wilderness in the Ochoco National Forest lies within the river's drainage basin.[5]

A total of 47 miles (76 km) of the river, from the Malheur National Forest boundary to Smoky Creek, are classified "recreational" in the National Wild and Scenic River (NWSR) system and offer opportunities for hiking, swimming, camping, hunting, and fishing.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  2. ^ a b c "South Fork John Day River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1149981. Retrieved September 3, 2008. 
  3. ^ "Bull Trout Recovery Plan: Columbia River/Klamath (2002), Chapter 9: John Day River" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service. pp. iv–3. http://www.fws.gov/pacific/bulltrout/RP/Chapter_9%20John%20Day.pdf. Retrieved August 12, 2010. 
  4. ^ "USGS 14039500 South Fork John Day Near Dayville, OR". United States Geological Survey. 2008. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/nwisman/?site_no=14039500. Retrieved September 4, 2008.  Average discharge rate was calculated by adding average annual discharge rates for the four calendar years, 1952–55, for which data was available from the USGS and dividing by 4.
  5. ^ DeLorme Mapping. Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (1991 ed.). Section 71, 77. 
  6. ^ "South Fork John Day River". U.S. National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 2007. http://www.rivers.gov/wsr-john-day-south.html. Retrieved September 4, 2008.