Bruneau River

Geobox | River
name = Bruneau River
category = River


image_size =
image_caption =
etymology =
country = United States
country_

state = Idaho
state1 = Nevada
district_type = County
district = Owyhee County
district1 = Elko County
tributary_left = Clover Creek
tributary_right = Jarbridge River
source =
source_location = Jarbidge Mountains
source_region = Elko County
source_state = Nevada
source_elevation_imperial = 2457
source_elevation_note = GNIS|394740|Bruneau River]
source_length_imperial =
source_lat_d = 41
source_lat_m = 34
source_lat_s = 42
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 115
source_long_m = 24
source_long_s = 50
source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note =
mouth = Snake River
mouth_location = C. J. Strike Reservoir
mouth_district =
mouth_region = Owyhee County
mouth_state = Idaho
mouth_country =
mouth_note =
mouth_lat_d = 42
mouth_lat_m = 56
mouth_lat_s = 57
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 115
mouth_long_m = 57
mouth_long_s = 43
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note =
mouth_elevation_imperial = 749
mouth_elevation_note =
length_imperial =
watershed_imperial = 3305
watershed_note = [http://www.nwcouncil.org/fw/subbasinplanning/bruneau/plan/Bruneau_Assessment.pdf Bruneau Subbasin Plan, Assessment] , Northwest Power and Conservation Council]
discharge_location = Hot Springs gage 131685000
discharge_imperial = 388
discharge_min_imperial =
discharge_max_imperial =
discharge_note =
discharge1_location =
discharge1_imperial =
discharge1_note =


map_size =
map_caption =
commons = The Bruneau River is a tributary of the Snake River, in the U.S. states of Idaho and Nevada. It runs through a narrow canyon cut into ancient lava flows in southwestern Idaho. The Bruneau Canyon, which is up to 1200 feet (365 meters) deep and 40 miles (64 km) long, features rapids and hot springs, making it a popular whitewater trip.

The Bruneau River's drainage basin is bounded by the Jarbridge Mountains to the south, the Owyhee Mountains and Chalk Hills to the west, and the Bruneau Plateau to the east.

Course

The Bruneau River system originates in the Jarbridge Mountains with three main streams, the East Fork Bruneau River, the West Fork Bruneau River, and the Jarbridge River, all flowing generally north. The Jarbridge River joins the West Fork, then the East and West Forks join to form the mainstem Bruneau River. Sheep Creek and Little Jacks Creek join from the west, and Clover Creek joins from the east. Most of the watershed is characterized by high plateaus through which the Bruneau and its tributaries cut deep, sheer canyons, especially along the middle Bruneau River and the lower reaches of the Jarbridge River, Sheep Creek, and the East Fork Bruneau.

The Bruneau River emerges from the plateau and canyon region convert|16|mi|km upstream from its mouth at the Snake River's C. J. Strike Reservoir. At this point the river enters the broad and fertile Snake River Plain. This lower section of the watershed is occupied by farms and ranches, and the town of Bruneau.

River modifications

The Bruneau River is used for irrigation purposes near the Snake River. Irrigation withdrawals result in a number of its tributary streams being largely dewatered annually.

History

The Bruneau River region was historically occupied by the Northern Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock tribes

The Bruneau River was given its name sometime before 1821 by French Canadian voyageurs working for the Montreal-based fur trading North West Company. [cite book |last= Mackie |first= Richard Somerset |title= Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British Fur Trade on the Pacific 1793-1843 |year= 1997 |publisher= University of British Columbia (UBC) Press |location= Vancouver |isbn= 0-7748-0613-3 |pages= p. 26]

Recreation and protected areas

Much of the mainstem Bruneau River above Hot Spring is designated as a Wild and Scenic River, as are parts of the West Fork and East Fork, and some of Sheep Creek. The Jarbridge Wilderness covers a portion of the southern end of the Bruneau watershed.

Whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities exist on the Bruneau and Jarbridge Rivers. The canyons contain stretches of whitewater with class 5 and class 6 rapids.

ee also

*Bruneau Dunes State Park.

References

External links and references

* [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=5005 NASA Earth Observatory page]