Willow Creek (Grand and Uintah counties, Utah) explained

Willow Creek
Map Size:250
Pushpin Map:USA Utah#USA
Pushpin Map Size:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the mouth of Willow Creek in Utah
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:Utah
Length:78miles[1]
Discharge1 Location:below Hill Creek near Ouray
Discharge1 Min:0cuft/s
Discharge1 Avg:26.5cuft/s
Discharge1 Max:11000cuft/s
Source1:Roan Cliffs
Source1 Location:Grand County
Source1 Coordinates:39.3422°N -109.6642°W[2]
Source1 Elevation:6794feet
Mouth:Green River
Mouth Location:Uintah County
Mouth Coordinates:40.0269°N -109.7431°W
Mouth Elevation:4642feet
Basin Size:897sqmi[3]

Willow Creek is a major north-flowing stream in Utah, United States, and is a tributary of the Green River. The creek drains a large remote area of the East Tavaputs Plateau, flowing into the Green River south of Ouray.

Geography

Willow Creek begins at the confluence of its East and West Forks about 25miles north of Thompson, Utah, in Grand County, to the north of the Roan Cliffs divide. East Willow Creek starts at an elevation of 8504feet at a spring along the Roan Cliffs; the shorter West Willow Creek originates at an elevation of 8359feet.[4] East Willow Creek is joined by She Canyon before combining with West Willow Creek to form the main stem. From there, Willow Creek flows northward into Uintah County, through the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, across the East Tavaputs Plateau at the bottom of a rugged gorge. It receives several major tributaries from the east, including Meadow Creek, Main Canyon, and Sunday School Canyon. Below Sunday School Canyon, Willow Creek flows through a wider valley along the east side of Big Pack Mountain to its confluence with Hill Creek, its largest tributary. Above their confluence, Hill Creek is almost the same length as Willow Creek, flowing roughly parallel and several miles to the west of Willow Creek. Below this point Willow Creek turns northwest to join the Green River about 5miles south of Ouray and 3miles below the confluence of the White River.[5]

There are no dams on Willow Creek, but there is one dam on Hill Creek, forming Towave Reservoir. Willow Creek is used for agriculture, mainly livestock water supply. The creek has high levels of dissolved solids and is considered an impaired water body.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USGS National Atlas Streamer. United States Geological Survey. 2017-05-01.
  2. 1434319. Willow Creek. 1979-12-31. 2017-05-01.
  3. Web site: USGS Gage #09308000 Willow Creek near Ouray, Utah: Monthly Statistics. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1947–1983. 2017-05-01.
  4. 1434128. West Willow Creek. 1979-12-31. 2017-05-01.
  5. ACME Mapper. USGS Topo Maps for United States. United States Geological Survey. 2017-05-01.
  6. Web site: Uinta Watershed Management Unit Water Quality Assessment. Utah Department of Environmental Quality. 2004. 2017-05-02.