Middle Fork Feather River

Middle Fork Feather River
El Rio de las Plumas[1]
The Middle Fork near Red Bridge Campground, May 2022
Map of the Feather River watershed including the Middle Fork Feather
Etymology"Plumas" means "feather" in Spanish
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionSierra Nevada
CitiesBeckwourth, Portola, Cromberg, Graeagle
Physical characteristics
SourceNear Beckwourth
 • locationSierra Valley, Plumas County
 • coordinates39°48′49″N 120°22′46″W / 39.81361°N 120.37944°W / 39.81361; -120.37944[1]
 • elevation4,872 ft (1,485 m)[2]
MouthLake Oroville
 • location
About 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Oroville, Butte County
 • coordinates
39°38′29″N 121°17′11″W / 39.64139°N 121.28639°W / 39.64139; -121.28639[1]
 • elevation
928 ft (283 m)[1]
Length98 mi (158 km), East-west
Basin size1,062 sq mi (2,750 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationMerrimac[3]
 • average1,489.5 cu ft/s (42.18 m3/s)[3]
 • maximum86,200 cu ft/s (2,440 m3/s)[4]
Basin features
River systemFeather River watershed
Tributaries 
 • leftSulphur Creek, Frazier Creek, Gray Eagle Creek, Jamison Creek, Nelson Creek, Onion Valley Creek, South Branch Middle Fork Feather River, Fall River
 • rightLittle Last Chance Creek, Big Grizzly Creek, Bear Creek, North Fork Middle Fork Feather River

The Middle Fork Feather River is a major river in Plumas and Butte Counties in the U.S. state of California.[1] Nearly 100 miles (160 km) long, it drains about 1,062 square miles (2,750 km2)[3] of the rugged northern Sierra Nevada range.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Middle Fork Feather River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2010-09-16. NOTE For the coordinates of the Middle Fork's mouth, the USGS's National Elevation Database lists a different elevation (902.7 ft):
  2. ^ "North Channel Little Last Chance Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  3. ^ a b c d "USGS Gage #11394500 on the Middle Fork Feather River near Merrimac, CA (Monthly Average Streamflow)". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1951–1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  4. ^ "USGS Gage #11394500 on the Middle Fork Feather River near Merrimac, CA (Peak Streamflow)". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1951–1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  5. ^ George, Holly; et al. (March 2007). "Upper Feather River Watershed (UFRW) Irrigation Discharge Management Program" (PDF). State Water Resources Control Board. University of California Davis. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2010-09-16.