Fall River (Shasta County, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fall River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Shasta County, California |
| City | Fall River Mills, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Thousand Springs, a spring in Shasta County 3,323 ft (1,013 m) 41°06′52″N 121°33′12″W / 41.11444°N 121.55333°W |
| River mouth | Fall River Mills, California 3,291 ft (1,003 m) 41°00′06″N 121°26′18″W / 41.00167°N 121.43833°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
The Fall River is a 21.3-mile-long (34.3 km) river. It flows in north-eastern Shasta County in northern California. This river is a tributary to the Pit River. This means it flows into the Pit River. The Fall River is a special place. It is known as a Heritage and Wild Trout stream. This means it is protected for its natural beauty and fish.
Contents
The River's Name: A Look Back
The Fall River got its name in 1848. It was named by John Frémont. He was an American explorer and soldier. He named it because of the many waterfalls and cascades. These were found at the end of the river.
Protecting the River: Ecology and Conservation
Many groups work to keep the Fall River healthy. Two important groups are the Fall River Conservancy and the Fall River Resource Conservation District. They work to restore the river's natural environment.
Studying the Trout Population
The Fall River Conservancy works with the University of California Davis. They study the trout in the river. They found two different groups of trout. One group lives in the colder water of Bear Creek. The other group lives in the warmer, steady water of Spring Creek. They also live in the main Fall River.
The river's water stays cool. This is because of the large amount of spring water flowing in. This cool water is perfect for trout to grow. It helps them even during the hot summer months.
Plants in the River
The upper part of the river used to have many water plants. These are called aquatic macrophytes. One common plant was horned pondweed. However, these plants have greatly decreased. This happened because of too much dirt and mud in the river. This sediment came from fires in the area. It also came from changes made to a smaller stream that flows into the river.
The River's Journey: Watershed and Course
The Fall River gets its water from a large area. This area is called its watershed. It covers about 612 square miles (1,590 km2). Most of the river's water comes from springs. These springs include Thousand Springs.
Main Water Sources
Bear Creek is one important source. It brings water from rain and snow. Bear Creek starts very high up, over 4,803 feet (1,464 m). It flows east to join the Fall River. This happens at Thousand Springs.
The Fall River has two other main streams that feed it. These are Spring Creek and the Tule River. Both of these streams also get their water from springs. The Tule River starts from the Ahjumawi Lava Springs system.
How the River Flows
The Fall River is a moderate-sized stream. It moves slowly and winds through meadows. It does not drop much in height. The river's slope is less than 1 foot per mile.
Spring Creek joins the Fall River about 5.2 miles (8.4 km) downstream from Thousand Springs. Seven miles (11 km) after Spring Creek, the Tule River joins the Fall River.
Hydroelectric Power
Since 1922, the river has been dammed. This happens before it reaches the Pit River. The water is then sent through a tunnel. This tunnel goes under Saddle Mountain. It leads to the Pit No. 1 Intake powerhouse. This is one of many dams on the Pit River that make electricity.
