Clavey River Explained

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.

Geography

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]

Features

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.

Conservation

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.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USGS Gage #11283500 Clavey River near Buck Meadows, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1959–1995. 2017-10-13.
  2. Web site: USGS Gage #11283500 Clavey River near Buck Meadows, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1959–1995. 2017-10-13.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 11, 2011
  4. Web site: United States Geological Survey (USGS) . United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Pinecrest, California quad . TopoQuest . 2017-10-13.
  5. Web site: United States Geological Survey (USGS) . United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Hull Creek, California quad . TopoQuest . 2017-10-13.
  6. Web site: United States Geological Survey (USGS) . United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Duckwall Mountain, California quad . TopoQuest . 2017-10-13.
  7. Web site: United States Geological Survey (USGS) . United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Jawbone Ridge, California quad . TopoQuest . 2017-10-13.