Jordan Creek (Owyhee River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jordan Creek |
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Map of the Owyhee River drainage basin; Jordan Creek joins the river near Rome, Oregon
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Location of the mouth of Jordan Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho, Oregon |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Owyhee Mountains near Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho 7,551 ft (2,302 m) 42°58′21″N 116°44′39″W / 42.97250°N 116.74417°W |
| River mouth | Owyhee River near Rome, Malheur County, Oregon 3,363 ft (1,025 m) 42°51′45″N 117°38′29″W / 42.86250°N 117.64139°W |
| Length | 99 mi (159 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,305 sq mi (3,380 km2) |
Jordan Creek is a river in the northwestern United States. It flows for about 99-mile (159 km) (159 km). The creek starts near Silver City, Idaho, in the Owyhee Mountains. It then flows west into Oregon. Finally, it joins the Owyhee River near Rome, Oregon.
Many smaller streams flow into Jordan Creek. These are called tributaries. Some of the main ones are Big Boulder, Soda, and Louse creeks in Idaho. Cow Creek is a major tributary in Oregon. Jordan Creek is named after Michael M. Jordan. He was part of a group that found gold along the creek in 1863.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river or body of water. Jordan Creek's watershed covers about 1,305 square miles (3,380 km2) (3,380 km2). This area is split almost equally between Idaho and Oregon. About 46 percent is in Idaho, and 54 percent is in Oregon.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people lived in mining towns here. They were looking for gold and silver. But when the gold ran out, most of these towns were left empty. Today, many people in the watershed live on small farms and ranches. Jordan Valley, Oregon, is the only town with people living there all year. Silver City mostly has people who visit on weekends or part-time.
How Land is Used
The land around Jordan Creek is used in different ways. Some areas are for farming, especially for growing hay. Other parts are rangeland where cattle graze. There are also forests and areas along the river called riparian zones. These zones are important for plants and animals.
The amount of rain and snow changes across the watershed. The mountains in Idaho get about 21 inches (53 cm) (53 cm) of precipitation each year. The plateaus in eastern Oregon get less, about 11 inches (28 cm) (28 cm). To help with farming, people have built reservoirs and diversions. These structures help control the water flow for irrigation.
Water Flow and Discharge
Scientists measure how much water flows in Jordan Creek. This is called its discharge. They have recorded the water flow for many years. The average amount of water flowing in the creek is about 183 cubic feet per second (5.2 m3/s). This measurement is taken about 4 miles (6 km) (6 km) from the Oregon-Idaho border.
The lowest amount of water ever recorded was 1.2 cubic feet per second (0.034 m3/s) in September 1962. The highest amount was 7,530 cubic feet per second (213 m3/s) on December 31, 1965. This big flow came from less than half of the total watershed area.
