Red Clover Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Clover Creek |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Plumas County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Horton Ridge, Sierra Nevada 6,610 ft (2,010 m) 39°52′45″N 120°20′17″W / 39.87917°N 120.33806°W |
| River mouth | Last Chance Creek 3,743 ft (1,141 m) 40°03′28″N 120°40′08″W / 40.05778°N 120.66889°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Red Clover Creek is a cool stream located in Plumas County, California, United States. It begins high up on Horton Ridge, which is part of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The creek flows for about 27 miles (43 km) through a beautiful area called Dotta Canyon and Red Clover Valley.
The creek eventually joins Last Chance Creek. This happens in Genesee Valley. Last Chance Creek then flows into Indian Creek. Indian Creek is a tributary of the East Branch North Fork Feather River. Red Clover Valley is about 5,400 feet (1,646 meters) high. It is located about 60 miles (97 km) north of Truckee. It is also about 30 miles (48 km) east of Quincy.
Contents
The Creek's Journey and Surroundings
Red Clover Creek has two main smaller streams that flow into it. These are Crocker Creek and Dixie Creek. The upper and middle parts of Red Clover Creek flow through flat, wide valleys. These valleys are made of soft soil and rocks. The lower part of the creek, however, runs through a rocky canyon. This canyon is filled with large boulders.
How the Creek Has Changed Over Time
Before the 1880s, the upper part of Red Clover Creek was different. It was a narrow stream with gentle slopes. Its banks were covered with many plants. These plants included hardwoods, sedges, and willows. This plant life helped protect the streambanks from washing away. The creek was also known as a great place to catch trout.
However, things changed due to human activities. There was a lot of tree cutting in the area. Beavers, which are animals that build dams and help the environment, disappeared. Also, many sheep and cattle grazed along the creek. This grazing destroyed the plants along the banks. All these changes led to serious erosion in the creek.
By 1985, the creek had become much wider. It was 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 meters) wide. It had also cut ten feet (3 meters) deeper into the ground. This erosion sent a lot of dirt and sand into the North Fork Feather River system. This happened through Indian Creek.
Wildlife and Restoration Efforts
The changes to Red Clover Creek also affected the local wildlife. When grazing removed the plants along the creek, the water table dropped. This meant the ground became drier. Wet meadows, which were once full of life, turned into dry areas. These dry areas were mostly covered with sagebrush. There was very little plant cover left for fish and other animals.
Bringing the Creek Back to Life
Because of these problems, many groups have worked to restore the creek. The Plumas Corporation has led several projects to fix the stream. These efforts aim to bring back the healthy environment the creek once had.
Scientists have found new evidence about beavers in the Sierra Nevada. They used radiocarbon dating on old beaver dam wood. This wood was found buried deep in the Red Clover Creek area. This shows that beavers lived in the Sierra mountains until at least the mid-1800s. Their return could help the creek's recovery.
Fish Species in Red Clover Creek
Four types of fish are known to live in Red Clover Creek:
- Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
- Mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus)
- Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)
These fish are an important part of the creek's ecosystem. Efforts to restore the creek help these fish and other wildlife thrive.
