Talk:Potlatch River/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Xtzou (Talk) 19:50, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

Hi, I will start my comments below. Lead

• "About 56 miles (90 km) long, it is the lowermost major tributary to the Clearwater River, a tributary of the Snake River, which ultimately drains to the Columbia River." - I am not sure which river the "which ultimately drains to the Columbia River " refers to.

Reworded to be more direct. Shannon^talk _contribs 01:54, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

• "The river drains an arid area of the Columbia Plateau physiographic province" - is there a simpler way of saying that? I wikilink physiography but that helps only a little.

Reworded. Shannon^talk _contribs 01:54, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

• Per WP:LEAD, I think you could expand the lead a little to cover a bit more of the relevant information in proportion to its coverages in the article.

Extended lead a bit. Shannon^talk _contribs 01:54, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

Course and drainage

• "and soon the river descends into a canyon that it flows through until its mouth." - this is clumsy.

Reworded. Shannon^talk _contribs 02:02, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

• "Idaho State Highway 3 follows part of the lower canyon, and the town of Juliaetta is located at the Middle Potlatch Creek confluence. - Is there a difference between following the canyon and following the river? Also, is there another word for "confluence" as it sounds like jargon?

Actually, "confluence" is a term we use specifically for rivers and sometimes, other geographic features. For example, The Missouri River's confluence with the Yellowstone River. Can't think of any good alternatives for "confluence" - "meeting point" could be one, but sounds awkward. Otherwise fixed. Shannon^talk _contribs 02:02, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

• "Draining an arid area of the Columbia Plateau, the river reaches its highest peaks in the winter and early spring, while it reduces to a trickle by summer and autumn." I think the paragraph should begin with the general fact that it drains the Columbia Plateau, and then cover the specifics of its course.

Modified. Shannon^talk _contribs 02:02, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

• Could Land use go under Ecology instead of being stuck off by itself?

Done. Shannon^talk _contribs 02:02, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

History

• "The Potlatch River area was once a broad sweep of dry grassland bordered by forested mountains, on the eastern edge of the arid Columbia Plateau. Because of its location just southwest of the foothills of the Rockies, the Potlatch River receives much more rainfall than watersheds just to the west, such as the Palouse and Tucannon Rivers." It would really help the article if this piece of information came earlier in the article, as this is where the river comes alive in the article. The beginning of the article is really technical sounding and the reader doesn't get a picture of the river.

(will continue)

Xtzou (Talk) 19:50, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

• A very nice article. I made a few more copy editing changes that I hope you will correct if they change the meaning. Xtzou (Talk) 14:52, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria

1. Is it reasonably well written?

   A. Prose quality:

   B. MoS compliance:

2. Is it factually accurate and verifiable?

   A. References to sources:

   B. Citation of reliable sources where necessary:

   C. No original research:

3. Is it broad in its coverage?

   A. Major aspects:

   B. Focused:

4. Is it neutral?

   Fair representation without bias:

5. Is it stable?

   No edit wars, etc:

6. Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?

   A. Images are copyright tagged, and non-free images have fair use rationales:

   B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:

7. Overall:

   Pass or Fail: Pass!

Congratulations! Xtzou (Talk) 14:52, 11 April 2010 (UTC)