| Ashland Creek | |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of Ashland Creek in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Jackson |
| Length: | 5.4miles |
| Source1: | Mount Ashland |
| Source1 Location: | Reeder Reservoir, Siskiyou Mountains |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 42.1564°N -122.7172°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 2947feet[1] |
| Mouth: | Bear Creek |
| Mouth Location: | Ashland |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 42.2164°N -122.7136°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 1719feet[2] |
| Basin Size: | 30.6sqmi |
Ashland Creek is a 5.4miles tributary of Bear Creek in the U.S. state of Oregon.[3] It joins Bear Creek near Ashland, 21miles from the larger stream's confluence with the Rogue River.[4]
The main stem of Ashland Creek begins at Reeder Reservoir, an artificial impoundment of about 20acres that provides municipal water to the city of Ashland. Two tributaries (forks) of the main stem feed the reservoir. Arising on the flanks of Mount Ashland, East Fork Ashland Creek is 5.8miles long, and West Fork Ashland Creek is 5.3miles long. The forks flow generally north through the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest to the reservoir.[3]
Below the reservoir, the main stem continues north through a canyon, then through a channel confined by urban development and into the broad alluvial valley of Bear Creek. The stream gradient averages about 9 percent on the upper reaches and 3 percent within the city.[3]
Elevations within the Ashland Creek watershed vary from about 1700feet at the mouth to about 7500feet in the mountains. The watershed covers about 31mi2 or 20,000 acres. In 2001, this included (rounded to the nearest hundred) 17100acres of forests; 1600acres of city development; 600acres of rural development; 200acres of farms, and smaller allotments for other uses. About 75miles of roads crisscrossed the watershed.[3]
Erosion along the tributaries and upper reaches coupled with rain-on-snow events contribute to sediment transport and floods along Ashland Creek. About 2000yd3 of sediment per year accumulates in Reeder Reservoir, but a flood in 1974 deposited 130000yd3 quickly, forcing the city to temporarily shut down the municipal water supply.[3] In addition to moving sediment, heavy flows block the creek with woody debris, creating dams that, upon breaking, cause flood surges. Five significant floods, the last in 1997, damaged property in Ashland during the second half of the 20th century.[3] The 1997 rain-on-snow event caused many streams in the Bear Creek watershed to reach 100-year flood levels, resulting in $4.5 million in damages.[5]