Goose Creek (Snake River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goose Creek |
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Goose Creek near Oakley, Idaho
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Location of the mouth of Goose Creek in Idaho
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho, Nevada, Utah |
| Counties | Cassia County, Idaho, Elko County, Nevada, Box Elder County, Utah |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cassia Division of the Sawtooth National Forest, Cassia County, Idaho 7,239 ft (2,206 m) 42°10′29″N 114°17′31″W / 42.17472°N 114.29194°W |
| River mouth | Snake River near Burley, Cassia County, Idaho 4,137 ft (1,261 m) 42°32′37″N 113°45′47″W / 42.54361°N 113.76306°W |
| Length | 123 mi (198 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,120 sq mi (2,900 km2) |
Goose Creek is a 123-mile (198 km) long river in the western United States. It's a branch, or "tributary," of the larger Snake River. This creek starts high up in the mountains of Idaho. It then flows through parts of Nevada and Utah before returning to Idaho.
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About Goose Creek
Goose Creek is a river that flows for about 123 miles (198 kilometers). It's an important waterway that eventually joins the Snake River. The creek begins in the Sawtooth National Forest in Cassia County, Idaho. Here, it starts at a high elevation of about 7,239 feet (2,206 meters).
Where Does Goose Creek Flow?
From its start in Idaho, Goose Creek flows south into Nevada. It then makes a loop and briefly crosses into Utah. Finally, it flows back into Cassia County, Idaho. The river ends near Burley, Idaho, where it meets the Snake River. Its watershed, which is the area of land that drains into the creek, covers about 1,120 square miles (2,901 square kilometers).
_about_16.8_miles_east_of_Little_Goose_Creek_in_Elko_County,_Nevada.JPG)
Why Is Goose Creek Important?
A few miles south of Oakley, Idaho, the creek is held back by a structure called the Oakley Dam. This dam creates a large body of water known as the Lower Goose Creek Reservoir. All the water from Goose Creek is collected in this reservoir. It is then used to water crops and fields, a process called irrigation. Because of this, the part of the creek's channel from the reservoir to its end is usually dry. Farming activities have also changed this part of the channel.
Its Name and History
Goose Creek got its name because many geese used to live along its banks. In the past, a famous route called the California Trail followed Goose Creek. This trail was used by pioneers traveling west. It followed the creek from northern Idaho, through northwestern Utah, and into northeastern Nevada.
