| Ash Creek | |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA California |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Ash Creek in California |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | California |
| Length: | 35miles |
| Discharge1 Location: | Adin[1] |
| Discharge1 Min: | 11.1cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 71cuft/s[2] |
| Discharge1 Max: | 2950cuft/s |
| Source1: | Ash Valley |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 41.0175°N -120.6528°W[3] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 5224feet |
| Mouth: | Pit River |
| Mouth Location: | Big Swamp, near Bieber |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 41.1575°N -121.1464°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 4131feet |
Ash Creek is a 35miles long stream located to the east of the Cascade Range in northeastern California, flowing through Lassen County and Modoc County.[3] It drains a semi-arid watershed composed mainly of volcanic hills and agricultural valleys.
It originates as a number of springs in the Ash Valley, in the Modoc National Forest, about 5miles west of Madeline in Lassen County. It flows northwest through a canyon into Ambrose Valley, past the Ash Creek Campground, then crosses into Modoc County and enters Round Valley where it turns southwest. At Adin, the creek is crossed by Highway 299 after passing through a gap in the hills into the much larger Big Valley, where it flows west roughly along the Modoc-Lassen county line. Near its terminus the creek feeds an extensive wetlands area known as Big Swamp, part of the Ash Creek State Wildlife Area. The creek joins with the Pit River on the western end of the swamp, about 2miles north of Bieber.[4]
Although located in a semi-desert region the flow of Ash Creek is perennial. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife calls Ash Creek "one of the most remote, least improved and most pristine" wildlife areas in California. There are about 3000acres of wetlands which provide habitat for many species of mammals, waterfowl and birds of prey.[5] The upper part of the creek, in the Modoc National Forest, is stocked annually with fish.[6]