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Big Butte Creek

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Big Butte Creek is a 12-mile-long (19 km) tributary of the Rogue River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains approximately 245 square miles (635 km2) of Jackson County. The north fork of the creek begins on the slopes of Rustler Peak and the south fork's headwaters are near Mount McLoughlin. Flowing west, they meet near the city of Butte Falls, and the main stem flows generally northwest until it empties into the Rogue River about 1 mile (2 km) southwest of William L. Jess Dam and Lost Creek Lake.

Big Butte Creek's watershed was originally settled over 8,000 years ago by the Klamath, Upper Umpqua, and Takelma tribes of Native Americans. In the Rogue River Wars of the 1850s, most of the Native Americans were either killed or forced into Indian reservations. The first non-indigenous settlers arrived in the 1860s, and the area was quickly developed. The creek was named after Snowy Butte, an early name for Mount McLoughlin. In the late 19th century, the watershed was primarily used for agriculture and logging. The small city of Butte Falls was incorporated in 1911.

Big Butte Springs, located in the watershed, provides clean drinking water to over 115,000 residents of the Rogue Valley. It emits over 26,000,000 US gallons (98,000,000 L) of water per day. Water from Big Butte Creek also is diverted for irrigation at several other locations.

The water quality of the Big Butte Creek watershed is generally high and supports several species of trout and salmon. The watershed is also home to over 152 species of birds, 63 species of mammals, 19 species of reptiles, and numerous plants. The Poverty Flats region was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by the Bureau of Land Management in 1995 to protect several rare species of plants.

Course

Big Butte Creek begins in the Cascade Range near Butte Falls. It flows generally northwest 860) 823 - 4211 x1221over approximately 12 miles (19 km) to its confluence with the Rogue River.[1] The two main forks of Big Butte Creek, the north fork and the south fork, merge at 2,244 feet (684.0 m) above sea level,[Note 1] while the creek's mouth is located at an elevation of 1,562 feet (476.1 m).[2]

The north fork's headwaters are located on the slopes of the 6,207-foot-tall (1,892 m) Rustler Peak.[3][4] It flows southwest, receiving many small tributaries such as Jackass, Eighty Acre, and Friese creeks. Turning west, it flows just north of Butte Falls before joining with the south fork.[4]

The south fork begins at the confluence of two of its tributaries, Twincheria and Rancheria creeks. It flows southwest, receiving Fourbit Creek on the left.[4] Fourbit Creek begins near Mount McLoughlin, where massive faults may allow water to seep into it from nearby Fourmile Lake in the Klamath River watershed.[5] The south fork turns west and receives Willow Creek on the left. The Big Butte Springs are located on Willow Creek, and the Medford Aqueduct, which carries drinking water to cities in the Rogue Valley, parallels the south fork from there all the way to Butte Falls. The south fork flows over the 15-foot-tall (4.6 m) Butte Falls—the nearby city's namesake—and merges with the north fork about 1 mile (2 km) downstream.[4][6][7]

Big Butte Creek travels northwest, gathering McNeil Creek on the left and Clark Creek on the right, along with many other minor tributaries.[4] This region contains many Class II and III rapids, as rated on the International Scale of River Difficulty.[7] The stream is crossed by Cobleigh Road at river mile (RM) 9.5 or river kilometer (RK) 15, and Netherlands Road at RM 3 (RK 5).[8][9] About 0.6 miles (1 km) before its mouth, Big Butte Creek cascades over Crowfoot Falls and is crossed by Crowfoot Road.[10][11] It then flows into the Rogue River 155 miles (249 km) from its mouth, where it enters the Pacific Ocean.[11] Big Butte Creek's mouth is about 1 mile (2 km) south of William L. Jess Dam, and Oregon Route 62 passes just north of it.[4][11] The main stem discharges less water than the south fork in the summer due to water diversions.[5]

Discharge

The United States Geological Survey monitors the flow of Big Butte Creek at three different stream gages: two on the south fork, and one on the main stem. Both south fork gages were shut down in 1991, but the gage located at the mouth of Big Butte Creek continues to operate.

Location Drainage basin Years recorded Average flow[Note 2] Maximum flow Minimum flow
South fork above Willow Creek 67.6 sq mi (175.1 km2)[12] 1986–1991 61.4 cu ft/s (1.7 m3/s)[12] 662 cu ft/s (19 m3/s)
(February 23, 1986)[13] 		21 cu ft/s (1 m3/s)
(August–September 1988, September 1990)[14]
South fork near Butte Falls 138 sq mi (357 km2)[15] 1911–1991 151.4 cu ft/s (4.3 m3/s)[15] 12,600 cu ft/s (357 m3/s)
(December 22, 1964)[16] 		31 cu ft/s (1 m3/s)
(September 1981)[17]
Mainstem at the mouth 245 sq mi (634.5 km2)[18] 1946–Present 207.9 cu ft/s (5.9 m3/s)[18] 16,800 cu ft/s (476 m3/s)
(December 22, 1964)[19][20] 		6.4 cu ft/s (0.2 m3/s)
(June 23–24, 1977)[19][20]

860) 823 - 4211 x1221

Watershed

The north fork begins on Rustler Peak. It flows southwest, then west, gathering many small tributaries. The south fork begins at the confluence of Rancheria and Twincheria creeks, flowing generally west. One of its main tributaries is Willow Creek, whose headwaters are on Mount McLoughlin. It is impounded by Willow Dam, creating Willow Lake. Big Butte Springs is also located on Willow Creek. The two forks merge at Butte Falls. Big Butte Creek flows northwest until it enters the Rogue River near Lost Creek Lake. The Big Butte Creek watershed is located almost entirely within Jackson County, with a small eastern portion in Klamath County.
A map of the Big Butte Creek watershed

Big Butte Creek drains approximately 245 square miles (635 km2) of southern Oregon. About 56 percent is federally owned by the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service, another one percent is owned by the City of Medford, and the remaining 44 percent is private.[21] Elevations range from 1,562 feet (476.1 m) at the creek's mouth to 9,495 feet (2,894 m) at the summit of Mount McLoughlin, with an average of 3,528 feet (1,075 m).[21][22]

The Big Butte Creek watershed experiences a Mediterranean climate, and receives between 35 and 80 inches (890 and 2,000 mm) of precipitation annually. Most precipitation occurs between November and March.[5][20][23] Nine percent of the watershed's surface runoff is collected from rain, 35 percent from rain on snow, and 56 percent from snow.[21] The watershed contains the largest groundwater source in the entire Rogue River basin; one major outlet is at Big Butte Springs.[5] Temperatures range from 10 °F (−12 °C) in the winter to 100 °F (38 °C) in the summer.[5][20][23]

The watershed is split into two geographic regions: the High Cascades and the Western Cascades, both volcanic in origin. The Western Cascades compose the western two thirds of the watershed. This region is highly eroded, being between 17 and 38 million years old. Its unstable slopes are primarily made of pyroclastic rock. Due to the rock's high ability to absorb moisture, earthflows are common. The High Cascades are much younger, around three to seven million years old. Mount McLoughlin is the most prominent High Cascade volcano in the watershed, last erupting approximately 30,000 years ago.[24] Basalt and andesite are the most common rock types in this region.[5][21]

Nearby watersheds include Little Butte Creek to the south, small Klamath River tributaries such as Fourmile Creek to the east, the South Fork Rogue River to the east and north, and minor tributaries of the Rogue River including Reese and Indian creeks to the west.[4]

Flora and fauna

A midsized bird perched on a moss covered limb. It has brown feathers, covered with white to tan spots. Its eyes are round and black, and its beak is short and curved downward.
The Northern Spotted Owl, a rare species that inhabits the watershed

Some of the most common trees that grow in the Big Butte Creek watershed include four species of fir, two species of pine, Incense Cedar, and Western Hemlock. The understory contains plants such as Pacific Yew, Pacific Madrone, Chinquapin, and Vine Maple. Several invasive species have been reported in the Big Butte Creek watershed, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, Common Bent, Drooping Brome, and Redtop. The spread of these species is most likely due to overgrazing.[5] Sensitive species that grow in the watershed include Howell's Yampah, Egg Lake Monkeyflower, Clustered Lady's Slipper, Green-flowered Ginger, Mount Mazama Collomia, and Detling's Microseris.[5][23] Mallow and Popcorn Flower have also been discovered in riparian zones.[20] The Poverty Flats Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is home to several rare species of plants, including Bellinger's Meadowfoam, Howell's Yampah, and Rocky Mountain Woodsia.[20]

Northern Spotted Owls, a vulnerable species, are known to live in the Big Butte Creek watershed. Bald Eagles nest around Willow Lake.[5][20][23] Over 152 other bird species are known or suspected to live in the watershed. Amphibians such as the vulnerable Oregon Spotted Frog and the near threatened Cascade Frog inhabit some regions of the watershed.[20][23] Black-tailed Deer, Roosevelt Elk, Cougars, and Black Bears are some of the most common of the 63 species of mammals inhabiting the watershed. Fishers, American Martens, and the Northern Goshawk have also been spotted. Sensitive species include the Wolverine, the Western Pond Turtle, the Sandhill Crane, and Townsend's Big-eared Bat. The Gray Wolf and the vulnerable Grizzly Bear once lived in the watershed, but are now considered extirpated. Nineteen species of reptiles have been reported to live in the area.[5]

Rainbow Trout, Chinook and Coho salmon, and Pacific Lamprey are the most common anadromous fish that inhabit Big Butte Creek.[20][21][23] They travel as far as Butte Falls, sometimes passing over it in during high flows.[21][23] Because of the cold, sterile conditions of the water and the difficulty of jumping over the waterfall, streams above Butte Falls have very low populations of anadramous fish.[5] Native, resident fish in this area include Cutthroat and Rainbow trout.[5][21] Willow Lake contains Largemouth Bass and Rainbow, Cutthroat, and Brook trout.[5] The Butte Falls Fish Hatchery, located near Butte Falls, raises Rainbow Trout and Coho and Chinook salmon.[25][26] Overall, the amount of fish in the Big Butte Creek watershed has declined in recent years, possibly due to the clearing of riparian zones and rising water temperatures.[20][23]

History

Humans have lived in the Big Butte Creek area for at least 8,000 years.[5] The Klamath, Upper Umpqua, Takelma, and Latgawa tribes of Native Americans inhabited the watershed until they were driven out in the Rogue River Wars of the 1850s.[5][20] On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1855, Captain E. A. Rice along with 34 other men attacked a Native American encampment near the creek's mouth. Eighteen Native American men were killed, all the women and children were captured, and the camp was burned to the ground.[27] Most were relocated to Indian reservations. Non-indigenous settlers first arrived in the early 1860s, and agriculture, ranching, and logging industries quickly developed.[5][20] Big Butte Creek was named by early settlers for its close proximity to Mount McLoughlin (also known as Snowy Butte), as was nearby Little Butte Creek.[28]

In 1904, a water-powered sawmill was constructed at Butte Falls, a waterfall along the south fork of Big Butte Creek. The town of Butte Falls was established in 1906, and incorporated in 1911.[5][21][23] The Pacific and Eastern Railway was constructed to Butte Falls in 1910.[5][23] Butte Falls also received water rights to Ginger Springs, providing high quality drinking water for the town.[21][23]

The Cat Hill Burn destroyed 30,000 acres (120 km2) of forest on Rustler Peak in 1910.[5][23] In 1915, the Eagle Point Irrigation Canal was constructed, diverting approximately 100 cubic feet per second (2.83 m3/s) of water for irrigation in the Little Butte Creek watershed.[21][22] The canal begins just below Butte Falls.[5] The Butte Falls Fish Hatchery was also constructed in 1915.[23][25] Originally, the hatchery impounded water from Ginger Creek, however in 1923 a canal was built transferring 15.5 cubic feet per second (0.439 m3/s) of water from the south fork of Big Butte Creek.[21][23][25]

The Medford Aqueduct, a 31-inch-wide (79 cm) pipeline, was constructed in 1927. It delivers about 40 cubic feet per second (1.1 m3/s) of drinking water from Big Butte Springs south to the Bear Creek watershed.[5][29][30] In 1951, a second pipeline was added, and Willow Dam was constructed, creating Willow Lake.[30] The springs serve over 115,000 customers throughout the Rogue Valley.[31]

Massive amounts of forest were logged in the 1920s and 30s. Reforestation efforts began in the 1940s because natural regeneration could not keep pace with the amount of logging. In 1962, the Columbus Day Storm knocked many more large trees to the ground. Today, old-growth forest covers only about five percent of the watershed.[5]

In 1995, the Poverty Flats region was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) by the Bureau of Land Management. Located about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Butte Falls, the ACEC is home to several rare species of plants. It was fenced off in 1996 to protect the area from roaming cattle.[20]

The Butte Falls Fish Hatchery was scheduled to be closed in July 2009 by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of a statewide effort to decrease the department's budget,[32] but on July 3 it was announced that the hatchery would continue to operate with only one employee.[33] However, the hatchery was closed permanently in October 2010.[34]

A 160-foot (49 m) portion of the Eagle Point Irrigation Canal failed on October 2, 2011, sending 86 cubic feet per second (2.4 m3/s) of muddy water down a hillside, across a road, and into lower Big Butte Creek, a vital salmon spawning area. A stream gage on the Rogue River about 15 miles (24 km) downstream reported turbidity levels twenty times higher than before the breach.[35][36] The canal was repaired by October 28.[36]

Pollution

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has monitored Big Butte Creek for eight different parameters that affect water quality: temperature, oxygen saturation, pH, nutrients, bacteria, chemical contaminants such as pesticides and metals, turbidity, and alkalinity. Streams that exceed the standard level are placed on the DEQ 303d list in accordance with the Clean Water Act.[21] About 54.2 miles (87.2 km) of the streams in the Big Butte Creek watershed were listed on the 2004/2006 DEQ 303d list. The entire main stem exceeded the standard level for temperature, oxygen saturation, and Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli, a type of bacteria. The lower 13.9 miles (22.4 km) of the north fork were listed for high temperature, along with many other minor tributaries. The south fork was not listed, although some of its tributaries were.[21]

The loop, shaped somewhat like a figure eight, begins in the town of Butte Falls. It travels east, passing the Butte Falls Fish Hatchery, then turns northeast near Mount McLoughlin. The third and fourth stops are the Whiskey Springs Interpretive Site and the Logging Arch. The loop passes the Cat Hill Burn site, and then has scenic views of Mount McLoughlin. It turns southeast to the Lower South Fork Trailhead, then northwest Imnaha Guard Station. The trail loops around to travel southeast, passing the Giant Sugar Pine and the South Fork Bridge. It turns southwest, passing the Lodgepole Kiosk and finally returning to Butte Falls.
A map of the Butte Falls Discovery Loop Tour, which passes through scenic areas of the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest

Overall, water quality in the Big Butte Creek watershed is generally high, however road construction and logging can cause severe erosion, leading to high levels of sedimentation and turbidity. The Willow Creek region often experiences high turbidity, but Willow Lake traps the sediment before it can travel downstream.[5] Big Butte Springs provides clean water which requires minimal treatment to meet water quality standards. Water from the springs have very little chemical pollution, low turbidity, and temperatures averaging between 44 and 46 °F (6.7 and 7.8 °C).[5]

Recreation

Popular recreational activities in the Big Butte Creek watershed include hunting, camping, hiking, and horseback riding.[5][20][23] Many tourists also come to sight-see.[23] The most heavily used trail in the area is the Blue Canyon Trail, leading to the Sky Lakes Wilderness, and ultimately the larger Pacific Crest Trail.[4][23] The city of Butte Falls has organized the Butte Falls Discovery Loop Tour, a half-day-long drive through the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest. The loop starts in Butte Falls, and has several stops for hiking and viewing the landscape, including Mount McLoughlin.[37]

Water recreation on Willow Lake includes boating, swimming, fishing, and waterskiing. Fishing is also popular in other streams, especially Fourbit Creek.[5][23] Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are popular in the winter.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Source was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Divide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

References

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Butte Falls was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference GNIS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Rustler Peak, Geographic Names Information System
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Benchmark Maps 2010, pp. 96–97
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Cite error: The named reference Upper was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Topographic Map: Butte Falls quadrant, United States Geological Survey
  7. ^ a b Giordano 2004, pp. 116–117
  8. ^ Topographic Map: Butte Falls quadrant, United States Geological Survey
  9. ^ Topographic Map: McLeod quadrant, United States Geological Survey
  10. ^ Evaluation of spring Chinook salmon spawning in Big Butte Creek, 2008, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  11. ^ a b c Topographic Map: McLeod quadrant, United States Geological Survey
  12. ^ a b USGS 14335200 So Fk Big Butte Cr Ab Willow Cr Nr B Fls,Oreg., United States Geological Survey
  13. ^ USGS 14335200 So Fk Big Butte Cr Ab Willow Cr Nr B Fls,Oreg., United States Geological Survey
  14. ^ USGS 14335200 So Fk Big Butte Cr Ab Willow Cr Nr B Fls,Oreg., United States Geological Survey
  15. ^ a b USGS 14335500 South Fork Big Butte Cr Nr Butte Falls,Oreg., United States Geological Survey
  16. ^ USGS 14335500 South Fork Big Butte Cr Nr Butte Falls,Oreg., United States Geological Survey
  17. ^ USGS 14335500 South Fork Big Butte Cr Nr Butte Falls,Oreg., United States Geological Survey
  18. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Average Main was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Max/Min was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Lower Big Butte Watershed Analysis, Bureau of Land Management
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Water Quality Restoration Plan, Bureau of Land Management
  22. ^ a b Upper Rogue Watershed Assessment, Upper Rogue Watershed Association
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Central Big Butte Creek Watershed Analysis, Bureau of Land Management
  24. ^ Mount McLoughlin Volcano, United States Forest Service
  25. ^ a b c Butte Falls Hatchery, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  26. ^ Butte Falls Hatchery, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  27. ^ Fagan 1885, p. 258
  28. ^ McArthur 2003, p. 79
  29. ^ Fletcher 2005, p. 143
  30. ^ a b Water for Our Community, Southern Oregon University
  31. ^ Mail Tribune, June 23, 2008
  32. ^ Mail Tribune, April 27, 2009
  33. ^ Mail Tribune, July 3, 2009
  34. ^ Mail Tribune, October 27, 2010
  35. ^ Mail Tribune, October 4, 2011
  36. ^ a b Mail Tribune, October 28, 2011
  37. ^ Recreation – Butte Falls Discovery Loop Tour, United States Forest Service

Bibliography

Books

  • Fagan, David (1885). History of Benton County. Oregon: D. D. Fagan. OCLC 5249765.
  • Fletcher, Angie; Davis, Susan; Pyke, Grant; Reinhart, Jill; Scanlon, Karen (2005). Water utility/agricultural alliances. Denver, Colorado: American Water Works Association. ISBN 978-1-58321-375-9. OCLC 61513241.
  • Giordano, Pete; Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club (2004) [First published 1980]. Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon Rivers (4 ed.). Seattle, Washington: The Mountaineers Books. ISBN 978-0-89886-815-9. OCLC 53793536.
  • McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 978-0875952772.

News articles

Websites

Other

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