| Clavey River | |
| Map: | Tuolumnemap-01.png |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | California |
| Length: | 31.3miles |
| Discharge1 Location: | Buck Meadows[1] |
| Discharge1 Min: | 2.28cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 255cuft/s[2] |
| Discharge1 Max: | 47000cuft/s |
| Source1: | Sierra Nevada |
| Source1 Location: | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 38.1411°N -119.9672°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 5989feet |
| Mouth: | Tuolumne River |
| Mouth Location: | Above Lake Don Pedro |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 37.8639°N -120.1164°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 1178feet |
| Basin Size: | 157sqmi |
The Clavey River is a tributary of the Tuolumne River in the Sierra Nevada, located in the Stanislaus National Forest and Tuolumne County, California. The river is long,[3] and is one of the few undammed rivers on the western slope of the Sierra. Via the Tuolumne River, the Clavey is part of the San Joaquin River watershed.
The headwaters of the Clavey are located in the Emigrant Wilderness of the Stanislaus National Forest, at the confluence of Bell Creek and Lily Creek about 3miles south of Pinecrest.[4] The river flows mostly north to south, which is rare for streams in the western Sierra, which generally flow from east to west. Shortly downstream, it receives Rock Creek from the left, then Trout Creek from the right, and is crossed by Forest Route 3N01 about 25miles above the mouth. It receives Twomile and Cottonwood Creeks from the right, then Reed Creek, its largest tributary, from the left about 15miles from the mouth. Between Twomile and Cottonwood Creeks there is a concrete bridge carrying Forest Route 1N04.[5] [6]
The Clavey receives Bear Springs Creek and Quilty Creek from the right before reaching a final bridge that carries Forest Route 1N01. Below this point the Clavey flows through a rugged canyon inaccessible except by boat. It makes a sweeping right-hand turn to the west at Jawbone Ridge about 5miles from its confluence with the Tuolumne River. The confluence, about 11miles upstream from Lake Don Pedro, is marked by a dramatic rapid on the Tuolumne called Clavey Falls.[7]
Clavey Falls provides a thrilling landmark to rafters and kayakers heading downstream. The river has notable swimming holes eroded into the granitic Sierra bedrock.
The Clavey is special because it has some of the highest biotic integrity of any river in California, remaining in relatively good flora/fauna/ecological condition. This river is unique because it still harbors a pre-glacial remnant population of coastal rainbow trout.
The Clavey River is one of the few undammed rivers in California, despite the many attempts to do so by the Turlock Irrigation District.
A multi-stakeholder group known as the Clavey River Ecosystem Project (CREP) is currently developing a baseline study and recommendations for the preservation of the Clavey.