Elder Creek (Tehama County)

Elder Creek
Elder Creek (Tehama County) is located in California
Elder Creek (Tehama County)
Location of Elder Creek in California
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Physical characteristics
SourceCalifornia Coast Ranges
 • locationMendocino National Forest
 • coordinates40°00′48″N 122°33′00″W / 40.01333°N 122.55000°W / 40.01333; -122.55000[1]
 • elevation801 ft (244 m)
MouthSacramento River
 • location
Near Gerber
 • coordinates
40°02′35″N 122°06′57″W / 40.04306°N 122.11583°W / 40.04306; -122.11583[1]
 • elevation
207 ft (63 m)
Length27 mi (43 km)[2]
Basin size150.5 sq mi (390 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationGerber, California[4]
 • average110 cu ft/s (3.1 m3/s)[4]
 • minimum0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
 • maximum14,100 cu ft/s (400 m3/s)

Elder Creek is a major stream in Tehama County, California and a tributary of the Sacramento River. It originates at the confluence of its North, Middle and South Forks, which begin in the Mendocino National Forest, and flows 27 miles (43 km)[2] east to its confluence with the Sacramento River about a mile (1.6 km) east of Gerber and 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Tehama. Measured to the head of its longest tributary, the South Fork, Elder Creek has a total length of 42 miles (68 km),[2] draining a watershed of about 150 square miles (390 km2).[3] Like the other streams draining this part of the western Sacramento Valley, Elder Creek is a highly seasonal stream that flows only during the winter and spring.[5]

Elder Creek was so named for the elder trees lining its course.[6] A variant name was Arroyo de los Saucos.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Elder Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  2. ^ a b c "USGS National Atlas Streamer". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  3. ^ a b "Tehama West Watershed Management Plan" (PDF). Resource Conservation District of Tehama County. August 2008. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  4. ^ a b "USGS Gage #11380500 on Elder Creek at Gerber, CA". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1949–1979. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  5. ^ "Tehama West Watershed". Sacramento River Watershed Program. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  6. ^ "Place Names" (PDF). Tehama County Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.