Hat Creek (California) Explained

Hat Creek
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:California
Subdivision Type5:Cities
Subdivision Name5:Old Station, Hat Creek, Cassel
Length:48.7miles
Discharge1 Location:Burney (combined USGS stations #11359300/Burney No.2 Powerhouse and #11359200/Hat Creek near Burney)[1] [2]
Discharge1 Avg:472.2cuft/s[3] [4]
Source1:Confluence of East and West Forks
Source1 Location:Dersch Meadows, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Source1 Coordinates:40.5172°N -121.4553°W[5]
Source1 Elevation:6302feet
Mouth:Pit River
Mouth Location:Lake Britton
Mouth Coordinates:40.9897°N -121.5786°W
Mouth Elevation:2736feet

Hat Creek (Achumawi: Hatiwïwi)[6] is a 48.7adj=midNaNadj=mid[7] stream and tributary of the Pit River, which is located in Shasta County of northern California.

The creek rises in two forks on the eastern slopes of Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park, and flows northward through Lassen National Forest to its mouth at Lake Britton near Burney, California.

Hat Creek is so named because a surveyor lost his hat there.[8]

Wild Trout Waterway

The lower three and a half miles of the creek has been designated by the California Department of Fish and Game as a "Wild Trout Waterway," with restrictive catch limits. This area has a similar geology to the chalk streams of southern England, and is considered a classic trout stream. The trout population is made of wild rainbow and brown trout of up to in length.

Towns

The main towns along Hat Creek are Hat Creek and Old Station, which is closer to Lassen Park. The Hat Creek Radio Observatory is located near the town of Hat Creek.

Lahar flow

During the May 19, 1915, eruption of Mount Lassen, a lahar swept down Hat Creek.[9] [10]

See also

There is a small mountain in Lassen National Park where the stream starts. It is square topped and looks like a hat, therein lies the derivation of the name!

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USGS Gage #11359200 on Hat Creek near Burney, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 2006–2014. 2015-11-23.
  2. Web site: USGS Gage #11359300 Hat Creek Powerhouse No. 2 near Burney, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1979–2014. 2015-11-23.
  3. Web site: USGS Gage #11359200 on Hat Creek near Burney, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 2006–2014. 2015-11-23.
  4. Web site: USGS Gage #11359300 Hat Creek Powerhouse No. 2 near Burney, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1979–2014. 2015-11-23.
  5. 261142. Hat Creek. 1981-01-19. 2015-11-23.
  6. Book: Bright, William. William Bright. 1998. 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning. Berkeley, CA. University of California Press.
  7. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 10, 2011
  8. Web site: Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide: Hat Creek Rim Overlook. National Geographic.
  9. Web site: Lassen Peak Eruptive Activity 1914-1921 . . 2004-12-01 . 2009-08-29 .
  10. Web site: Robinson . Joel E. . Clynne . Michael A. . Lahar Hazard Zones for Eruption-Generated Lahars in the Lassen Volcanic Center, California . U.S. Geological Survey . 7 August 2024 . 2012.