Bridge Creek (John Day River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridge Creek |
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Bridge Creek in the Painted Hills
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 Location of the mouth of Bridge Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Wheeler |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ochoco Mountains Mount Pisgah, Wheeler County, Oregon 6,333 ft (1,930 m) 44°28′00″N 120°14′27″W / 44.46667°N 120.24083°W |
| River mouth | John Day River Near Coyote Canyon, Wheeler County, Oregon 1,483 ft (452 m) 44°44′10″N 120°18′30″W / 44.73611°N 120.30833°W |
| Length | 28 mi (45 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 267 sq mi (690 km2) |
Bridge Creek is a river in Oregon, a state in the United States. It flows for about 28 miles (45 kilometers) and eventually joins the John Day River. The water from Bridge Creek is part of a larger system that flows into the Columbia River. Its watershed, which is the area of land that drains into the creek, covers about 267 square miles (692 square kilometers) in Wheeler County.
Contents
Where Bridge Creek Flows
Bridge Creek starts high up in the Ochoco Mountains in central Oregon. Its journey begins near Mount Pisgah, which is part of the Bridge Creek Wilderness. From there, it flows northeast for about 13 miles (21 kilometers).
Through Mitchell
The creek then reaches the small city of Mitchell. Here, it flows right alongside Main Street. After Mitchell, Bridge Creek turns and flows northwest for about 15 miles (24 kilometers).
The Painted Hills
As it continues its journey, Bridge Creek passes through a very famous and colorful place. This is the Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The Painted Hills are known for their unique layers of red, gold, black, and green soil. Finally, Bridge Creek meets the John Day River.
Flash Floods
Bridge Creek can sometimes have sudden, powerful floods called flash floods. These floods happen very quickly and can cause a lot of damage. The city of Mitchell and nearby rural areas have been affected by these floods.
Past Floods in Mitchell
In the past, major floods happened in Mitchell in 1884 and 1904. The rushing water from the creek caused a lot of destruction. Another big flood occurred on July 13, 1956. This happened after a very strong thunderstorm in the Ochoco Mountains.
Usually, in July, Bridge Creek in Mitchell is less than 12 inches (30 centimeters) deep. But after that thunderstorm, a huge amount of water suddenly surged through. This powerful flood destroyed or badly damaged 20 buildings in Mitchell. Several bridges over Bridge Creek were also washed away. Experts estimated that about 4 inches (100 millimeters) of rain fell in just 50 minutes during the storm. The flood caused a total of $709,000 in damage, harming crops and roads too.
