Dairy Creek (Oregon)

Dairy Creek
Dairy Creek just south of the Tualatin Valley Highway
Dairy Creek (Oregon) is located in Oregon
Dairy Creek (Oregon)
Location of the mouth of Dairy Creek in Oregon
EtymologyProbably first used by Hudson's Bay Company employees who ran a dairy near the creek prior to 1840.[2]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyWashington
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of East Fork Dairy Creek and West Fork Dairy Creek
 • locationnear Schefflin, Washington County, Oregon
 • coordinates45°34′11″N 123°04′22″W / 45.56972°N 123.07278°W / 45.56972; -123.07278[1]
 • elevation151 ft (46 m)[3]
MouthTualatin River
 • location
near Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon
 • coordinates
45°30′06″N 122°59′43″W / 45.50167°N 122.99528°W / 45.50167; -122.99528[1]
 • elevation
128 ft (39 m)[1]
Length10.55 mi (16.98 km)[4]
Basin size226 sq mi (590 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • locationEast Fork Dairy Creek, 12.3 miles (19.8 km) above confluence with West Fork Dairy Creek[6]
 • average76.9 cu ft/s (2.18 m3/s)[6]
 • minimum6.9 cu ft/s (0.20 m3/s)
 • maximum1,580 cu ft/s (45 m3/s)

Dairy Creek is a 10.55-mile (16.98 km) tributary of the Tualatin River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at the confluence of its east and west forks near the unincorporated community of Schefflin and meanders southeast across the Tualatin Valley to the Tualatin River near Hillsboro, in Washington County. East Fork Dairy Creek begins at 45°47′18″N 123°02′29″W / 45.788446°N 123.041498°W / 45.788446; -123.041498 (Dairy Creek East Fork source) in Columbia County, slightly north of its border with Washington County, and flows generally south for 22 miles (35 km). West Fork Dairy Creek, also about 22 miles (35 km) long, forms at 45°45′19″N 123°10′41″W / 45.7553899°N 123.178168°W / 45.7553899; -123.178168 (Dairy Creek West Fork source), near the unincorporated community of Tophill, and flows generally southeast.[4][7][8][9] Before railroads displaced river boats on the Tualatin, some steamships also worked the lower section of Dairy Creek, with plans to go as far up stream as Centerville.[10]

  1. ^ a b c "Dairy Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1980-11-28. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  2. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003). Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition. Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 265. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  3. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. ^ a b Hedin, Darrell. "Tualatin Basin Stream Mile Index". Washington County Watermaster. Archived from the original on 2007-08-13.
  5. ^ Bonn, Bernie. "Appendix I, River Mile Indices" (pdf). Tualatin River Flow Management Technical Committee 2007 Annual Report. Oregon Water Resources Department, District 18 Watermaster. p. I-5. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference east fork gauge was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "East Fork Dairy Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1980-11-28. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  8. ^ "West Fork Dairy Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1980-11-28. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  9. ^ Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (1991 ed.). DeLorme Mapping. § 65. ISBN 0-89933-235-8.
  10. ^ Johnston, Jerry (October 19, 1976). "Transportation: Navigation on Tualatin slowed by snags". Hillsboro Argus. p. 6.