Selway River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Selway River |
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Selway River at the Goat Creek rapid
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Course of the river
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Location of the mouth of the Selway River in Idaho
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Idaho |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Southeast of Stripe Mountain Bitterroot National Forest, Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot Mountains 6,857 ft (2,090 m) 45°29′49″N 114°44′37″W / 45.49694°N 114.74361°W |
| River mouth | Meets Lochsa River to form Middle Fork Clearwater River Lowell, Nez Perce National Forest 1,453 ft (443 m) 46°08′25″N 115°35′58″W / 46.14028°N 115.59944°W |
| Length | 100 mi (160 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,013 sq mi (5,210 km2) |
| Type: | Wild, Recreational |
| Designated: | October 2, 1968 |
| Reference #: | P.L. 90-542 |
The Selway River is a big river in Idaho, USA. It flows into the Clearwater River. This river runs through wild and beautiful areas. These include the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and two national forests: the Bitterroot National Forest and the Nez Perce National Forest.
In 1968, the entire Selway River was made part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This means it is protected for its natural beauty and special values.
The main part of the Selway River is about 100 miles (160 km) long. It starts high up in the Bitterroot Range mountains. It then flows until it meets the Lochsa River near Lowell. When these two rivers meet, they form the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. The Selway River drains an area of about 2,013 square miles (5,210 km²). This whole area is in Idaho County.
Contents
History of the Selway River
The Selway River is an important home for Chinook salmon. These fish are known for swimming upstream to lay their eggs.
In the mid-1960s, special channels were built along the Selway River. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Job Corps built these channels. Their goal was to help the spring Chinook salmon return to the river. This was needed because dams built downstream had made it harder for the salmon to travel.
From 1981 to 1985, salmon eggs and young fish (called fry) were put into the river each fall. This helped to bring the salmon population back up. A book written in 1993, called Indian Creek Chronicles, tells the story of this project. It even won an award!
Plants of the Selway River Area
The area around the Selway River is full of different kinds of plants. Here are some of the trees and other plants you might find:
- Cedar - especially the Western red cedar
- Ferns
- Firs – like Douglas fir and grand fir
- Huckleberries - these are small, tasty berries
- Pine - such as ponderosa pine
- Spruce - including Engelmann spruce
Animals of the Selway River Area
The Selway River area is home to many different animals. It's a great place for wildlife!
Birds
You can spot many kinds of birds here, such as:
Fish
The river is full of fish, including:
- Trout
- Salmon
- Mountain whitefish
Mammals
Many different mammals live in this wild area:
- Bighorn sheep
- American black bear
- Cougar (also known as mountain lion)
- Elk
- Fisher
- Gray wolf
- Lynx
- Moose
- Mountain goat
- Mule deer
- Northern river otter
- Skunk
- Weasel
- White-tailed deer
- Wolverine
Fun Activities on the Selway River
The Selway River and its surrounding wilderness offer many exciting activities for people who love the outdoors:
- Backcountry skiing - skiing in wild, unmarked areas
- Camping - spending time outdoors in a tent or RV
- Fly fishing - a special way of fishing using artificial flies. There are rules about how many fish you can keep, and sometimes you must release them.
- Hiking - walking on trails to explore nature
- Whitewater rafting - floating down the river on a raft, often through exciting rapids. You usually need special permits for this.
- Hunting - hunting certain animals during specific seasons
Images for kids
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White-tail deer in the Selway River
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