Ana River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ana River |
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Ana River near Summer Lake, Oregon
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Springs near and under Ana Reservoir 4,226 ft (1,288 m) 42°59′51″N 120°45′30″W / 42.99749°N 120.75839°W |
| River mouth | Summer Lake 4,150 ft (1,260 m) 42°54′12″N 120°46′04″W / 42.90333°N 120.76778°W |
| Length | 7 mi (11 km) |
The Ana River is a short river in south-central Oregon. It gets its water from natural springs. This river is located on the edge of the Great Basin. It flows for about 7 miles (11 km) from springs at the base of Winter Ridge.
The river passes through high desert, open land, and wetlands. Finally, it flows into Summer Lake. Most of the Ana River runs through the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. This area is looked after by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The river is home to many animals, including mammals, birds, and fish. A rare fish called the Summer Lake Tui chub lives here. Also, the biggest hybrid striped bass ever caught in Oregon was found in Ana Reservoir in 2009.
Where the River Is Found
The Ana River is a few miles east of a small town called Summer Lake, Oregon. The river flows for 7 miles (11 km) through the high desert in Lake County, Oregon. It then drains into Summer Lake. The river was named by W. H. Byars, who surveyed the land in the 1890s. He named it after his daughter.
The area that drains into the Ana River, called its watershed, is very small. This means not much water comes from melting snow or rain runoff. The river mainly gets its water from small springs. These springs provide a steady flow of water all year. The water from the springs is always about 52 °F (11 °C). This helps the river and a nearby reservoir stay warm, even in winter.
The River's Path
The Ana River starts from several springs east of Winter Ridge. This is a high, steep landform called an escarpment. The springs are located near and under Ana Reservoir. This reservoir is about 60 acres (0.24 km2) big. It is owned by the Summer Lake Irrigation District. However, the land around the reservoir is part of the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. This area is a wildlife refuge run by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Ana River flows through this wildlife area for most of its journey.
After leaving the reservoir, the Ana River flows southeast for about 2 miles (3.2 km). Private ranch land is on its north side, and the Summer Lake Wildlife Area is on the south side. For a short distance, the river goes through land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Here, the river turns south. It reaches the River Ranch Campground in the Summer Lake Wildlife Area in about two miles.
Between Ana Reservoir and the River Ranch Campground, the Ana River looks very natural. It has a clear path and a soft bottom. There are plants that need water growing along its banks. The natural water plants are well-established here. In this part, the river flows through a small canyon. Open land is on both sides. The plants along the river include big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, greasewood, and different types of grasses. Trees are not common along the Ana River. But there are a few native western juniper trees. Also, some small cottonwood and willow groves were planted by early settlers.
Just after the River Ranch Campground, the Ana River turns southwest. It flows through a large, man-made wetland. Here, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife uses dikes and channels to keep the wildlife habitat healthy. These wetlands and marsh pools cover about 4,500 acres (18 km2). Water from the river is sent into these areas to keep them wet. In the marsh, you can find different plants. These include sedges, rushes, and bluegrass in the wet meadows. You'll also see cattails and bulrushes around the marsh pools.
In the lower part of the river, the water becomes more alkaline. About 7 miles (11 km) from its source, the Ana River flows into the north end of Summer Lake. At its mouth, the Ana River is very shallow. It spreads out as it enters the large lake, which is a closed basin (meaning water flows in but not out).
Wildlife and Nature
The Ana River is very important because it provides the only riparian habitat (wetland area along a river) in the Summer Lake valley. It also feeds the wetlands that are home to hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. In 2005, several groups worked together to improve about 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of wetland habitat. This was in the River Ranch area of the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. They replaced old water control structures along the Ana River. This made the water system much better. It helped both the river and the wetland habitats.
Today, the Ana River area supports many different animals. There are 40 types of mammals, at least 280 types of birds, 15 types of reptiles and amphibians, and eight types of fish.
The Ana River is home to river animals like beavers and muskrats. It also supports animals that don't live in the water. Common animals in the Ana River area include Nuttall's cottontail rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbits, yellow-bellied marmots, chipmunks, and different kinds of ground squirrels. You might also see long-tailed weasels, mink, raccoons, striped skunks, mule deer, coyotes, and bobcats. Three types of bats also live here.
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The Ana River habitats are home to many different birds. These include upland game birds, songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey. In the dry high desert along the upper Ana River, California quail and mourning doves are common. There are also ring-necked pheasants, greater sage grouse, and chukars. Songbirds in this area include bullock's orioles, sage thrashers, and different types of wrens and sparrows. In the marshy areas of the lower Ana River, you can find Brewer's sparrows, lark sparrows, marsh wrens, red-winged blackbirds, and yellow-headed blackbirds.
Many shorebirds nest along the Ana River and in the wetlands it feeds. These include American avocets, black-necked stilts, western snowy plovers, spotted sandpipers, and long-billed curlews. In the marshes, large groups of Canada geese, mallards, and different types of teal and ducks nest. Other birds like Great egrets, snowy egrets, black-crowned night herons, and sandhill cranes also nest here. Many more bird species stop in the Ana River area during their spring and fall migrations. These include trumpeter swans, tundra swans, and different types of geese and sandpipers.
Because so many birds are in the Summer Lake area, owls, hawks, and other birds of prey are common. Native owls include great horned owls, barn owls, and short-eared owls. Other birds of prey include prairie falcons, American kestrels, red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, Swainson's hawk, golden eagles, and bald eagles.
The Ana River is home to stocked populations of hybrid striped bass and rainbow trout. It also has native Summer Lake Tui chub and non-native Goose Lake Tui chub. The Tui chub fish are small, from less than an inch to about ten inches long. Both types of Tui chub are found throughout the Ana River system. They are an important food source for many mammals, birds, and other fish. Hybrid striped bass were put into the Ana River in 1982. These bass cannot reproduce, so the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife adds about 2,000 young fish every two years. Like the bass, all the rainbow trout in the river are stocked. The river has been stocked with up to 20,000 trout every year since the 1940s. However, there is no sign of trout reproducing in the river. While hybrid bass and trout can be found in the lower Ana River, they usually stay in the first four miles (6 kilometres (3.7 mi)) of the river, from Ana Reservoir to River Ranch Campground.
Fun Activities
The Ana River offers many fun activities. These include fishing, birdwatching, wildlife photography, hunting, and camping. Most of the Ana River flows through the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. This is a large wildlife refuge, about 18,941 acres (76.65 km2) big, run by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The refuge is open all year. It has good roads, parking, restrooms, picnic areas, nature trails, a place to launch canoes, campsites, and signs with information. However, there is no drinking water except at the refuge headquarters. This is located near Oregon Route 31 in the small town of Summer Lake, Oregon.
Ana Reservoir and the upper Ana River are great for fishing. You can fish from the shore or use a canoe or kayak. The reservoir and river are regularly stocked with rainbow trout and hybrid bass. Because the river's temperature stays mild, people can fish here all year. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says the best fishing is in late winter and early spring. Most recreational fishing happens between Ana Reservoir and River Ranch Campground. Rainbow trout can be over 20 inches (510 mm) long. Hybrid bass can reach 18 pounds (8.2 kg). In fact, the Oregon state record hybrid bass, weighing 18 pounds and 9.5 ounces, was caught in Ana Reservoir in 2009.
The Ana River provides important habitat in an otherwise dry high desert area. The river supports many types of wildlife, especially in the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. This wetland area hosts hundreds of thousands of birds during their spring and fall migrations along the Pacific Flyway. Because of the large number and variety of birds, the Ana River area is popular for birdwatching and wildlife photography.
Hunters can find many waterfowl, upland birds, and big game animals in the Ana River area. Most of the Summer Lake Wildlife Area is open for hunting during specific seasons. The River Ranch area is especially popular for hunting waterfowl. During hunting season, the Summer Lake Wildlife Area opens two hours before sunrise and closes a half-hour after sunset.
There are several simple campgrounds along the Ana River. The River Ranch Campground is probably the most popular. It is near the northeast corner of the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. This campground is on the east bank of the Ana River, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Ana Reservoir. You can reach it by a gravel road. The campground has basic campsites with picnic tables and restrooms. However, there is no drinking water. There is also a barn and sheds at the campground. These are used by the Department of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife information and education programs. The refuge closes the campground during hunting season.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife also has several day-use sites along the Ana River. These sites let you access hiking trails, birdwatching spots, and places to fish from the shore. Some sites have picnic tables and restrooms, but visitors must bring their own drinking water.
