Miller Creek (Klamath County, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Miller Creek |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| Region | Klamath County |
| City | Bonanza |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Gerber Dam northwest of Langell Valley 1,478 ft (450 m) 42°12′36″N 121°7′48″W / 42.21000°N 121.13000°W |
| River mouth | Lost River at Langell Valley 1,262 ft (385 m) 42°0′34″N 121°14′23″W / 42.00944°N 121.23972°W |
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Miller Creek below Gerber Reservoir, part of the Klamath Project.
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Miller Creek is a stream about 7.6 miles (12.2 kilometers) long. It flows through western Klamath County, Oregon, in the United States. This creek starts above Gerber Reservoir. It then flows into special canals used for watering farms in Langell Valley. Finally, it joins the Lost River.
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Journey of Miller Creek
Miller Creek begins its journey above Gerber Reservoir. This reservoir is held back by Gerber Dam, which is east of the city of Bonanza. The creek flows south towards Langell Valley.
Once it reaches Langell Valley, the creek changes. It flows into a system of canals and uses pumping stations. It runs alongside Miller Creek Road. Eventually, Miller Creek empties into the Lost River. This happens about 55.6 miles (89.5 kilometers) from the Lost River's start.
There is usually a small temperature difference between Miller Creek and the Lost River where they meet. Miller Creek's temperature can change a lot in different places. This is especially true in the lower 4.7 miles (7.6 kilometers) of the stream.
Gerber Reservoir's Role
Gerber Reservoir is built on Miller Creek. It helps store water for irrigation, which means watering crops. It also helps control the amount of water flowing into parts of Tulelake. This includes the special areas called Tule Lake Sumps in the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
History of the Name
Miller Creek is named after a man named James Miller. He was born in 1814 and passed away in 1890. James Miller was from Ireland. He traveled across the continent in 1844 with a group called the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party. In 1845, he settled on a piece of land known as Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas.
Wildlife and Environment
Scientists have found a type of fish called Columbia River redband trout in Miller Creek. These fish are a kind of Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri. We don't know a lot about them in this creek yet.
The E.P.A., Klamath County Public Works, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife think Miller Creek is a good place to help trout. The creek has healthy areas along its banks where plants grow. Fish can also move easily through the creek because there are not many blockages. The amount of water in the creek is also controlled by Gerber Dam.
It is very likely that these fish are actually coastal rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus). These rainbow trout probably came from a fish hatchery, which is a place where fish are raised.
