| Willow Creek | |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of Willow Creek in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name4: | Morrow and Gilliam |
| Length: | 79miles[1] [2] |
| Discharge1 Location: | river mile 4 (river kilometer 6)[3] [4] |
| Discharge1 Min: | 0cuft/s(Often)[5] |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 31.3cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Max: | 16900cuft/s(January 14, 1974)[6] |
| Source1: | Arbuckle Mountain |
| Source1 Location: | Blue Mountains, Morrow County, Oregon |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 45.1656°N -119.3414°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 4351feet |
| Mouth: | Columbia River |
| Mouth Location: | upstream of Arlington, Gilliam County, Oregon |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 45.8058°N -120.0067°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 269feet |
| Basin Size: | 880sqmi |
Willow Creek is a 790NaN0 long tributary of the Columbia River, located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains 880mi2 of Morrow and Gilliam counties. Arising in the Blue Mountains, it flows generally northwest to its confluence with the Columbia River upstream of Arlington.
Willow Creek's headwaters are located near Arbuckle Mountain in the Blue Mountains, southeast of Heppner. It flows north, then west, receiving the North Fork on the right and Skinners Fork on the left.[7] Willow Creek Lake is formed by the 1600NaN0 tall Willow Creek Dam just upstream of Heppner at river mile (RM) 52.4, or river kilometer (RK) 84.3.[2] Willow Creek flows northwest through Heppner, receiving Hinton Creek on the right. About 10miles later, the creek travels through Lexington. Soon after, Rhea Creek enters on the left, and Willow Creek passes through the communities of Ione and Morgan. Turning north, it crosses into Gilliam County, flowing beneath Highway 74 and Interstate 84/Highway 30 just before its mouth.[7] Willow Creek flows into the Columbia River approximately 253miles above its confluence with the Pacific Ocean.[1] [2]
| Location | Drainage basin | Years recorded | Average flow | Maximum flow | Minimum flow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| above Willow Creek Lake (RM 54, RK 87) | 67.61NaN1[8] | 1983–2009 | 201NaN1 | 5540NaN0 (February 1, 1997)[9] [10] | 00NaN0 (Often) | |
| Heppner (RM 52, RK 84) | 96.81NaN1[11] | 1952–2009 | 19.71NaN1 | 36000-2NaN-2 (June 14, 1903)[12] [13] | 00NaN0 (Often) | |
| near Highway 74 (RM 4, RK 6) | 8500NaN0 | 1961–1979 | 31.31NaN1 | 16900-1NaN-1 (January 14, 1974) | 00NaN0 (Often) |
Willow Creek drains 880mi2 of the Columbia Plateau region of Oregon.[1] [2] Ninety percent is privately owned, nine percent is owned by U.S. federal agencies such as the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and United States Department of Defense, and one percent is owned by the state of Oregon. About 60 percent of the watershed is either forested, rangeland, or shrubland, 39 percent is cropland, and 1 percent is urban.[2] The highest elevation in the watershed is 5583feet near Willow Creek's headwaters, while the lowest is 269feet at its mouth.[14] Temperatures range from below 0F to over 110F, while the average is about 50F. The average precipitation ranges from 8inches in the lower regions to 34inches in the mountains.[1] [2]
No anadromous fish are known to inhabit streams in the Willow Creek watershed. Small and largemouth bass, black crappie, brown bullhead, bluegill, and pumpkinseed live in Willow Creek Lake.[1]
See main article: Heppner Flood of 1903. Strong thunderstorms moved over the Heppner area on June 14, 1903, causing heavy rain and hail. Within fifteen minutes, a 40-1NaN-1 wall of water swept down Willow Creek. The flash flood washed away one-third of the town's structures, killing 247 people in the "most deadly natural disaster in Oregon's recorded history." One hundred and fifty homes were destroyed in the city of Ione, 20miles downstream; residents were able to evacuate because of advanced telephone warnings.[15] In 1983, the Willow Creek Dam was constructed just upstream of Heppner. The resulting Willow Creek Lake's primary use is flood control.[1]