Rock Creek (Catlow Valley)

For other places with the same name, see Rock Creek.
Rock Creek
Rock Creek (Catlow Valley) is located in Oregon
Rock Creek (Catlow Valley)
Location of the mouth of Rock Creek in Oregon
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLake, Harney
Physical characteristics
SourceHart Mountain
 • locationLake County
 • coordinates42°26′57″N 119°41′33″W / 42.44917°N 119.69250°W / 42.44917; -119.69250[1]
 • elevation6,914 ft (2,107 m)[2]
MouthCatlow Valley
 • location
Harney County
 • coordinates
42°39′41″N 119°10′08″W / 42.66139°N 119.16889°W / 42.66139; -119.16889
 • elevation
4,557 ft (1,389 m)[1]
Length56 mi (90 km)[3]
Basin size269 sq mi (700 km2)[4]

Rock Creek is a 56-mile (90 km) intermittent stream flowing in Lake and Harney counties in the U.S. state of Oregon.[3] The source of Rock Creek is at an elevation of 6,914 feet (2,107 m) on Hart Mountain,[2] while the mouth is at an elevation of 4,557 feet (1,389 m) in the Catlow Valley.[1] Rock Creek has a 269-square-mile (700 km2) watershed.[4]

From its source northeast of Warner Peak, the creek flows generally northeast, with segments that flow generally north and others that flow generally east, across the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. The creek flows through Hot Springs Campground, where Bond Creek, a named tributary, enters from the right. The creek passes by Antelope Hot Springs downstream of the campground. Further downstream, it flows through the refuge headquarters, where it passes under Frenchglen Road. The creek then runs roughly parallel to Poker Jim Ridge, on the left, before heading east into Rock Creek Reservoir and then into Catlow Valley.[5] Catlow Valley is a closed basin, with no outlet to the sea.[6]

  1. ^ a b c "Rock Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. ^ a b "National Hydrography Dataset". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Watershed Boundary Dataset". USDA, NRCS, National Cartography and Geospatial Center. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  5. ^ "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved April 5, 2016 – via Acme Mapper.
  6. ^ LaLande, Jeff. "Catlow Valley". The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society. Retrieved April 5, 2016.