Shell Creek facts for kids
Shell Creek is a cool waterway in Wyoming, USA. It's about 50 miles (80 km) long. This creek is a "tributary," which means it flows into a bigger river. Shell Creek joins the Bighorn River, which then flows into the even larger Yellowstone River.
Shell Creek is found completely within Big Horn County. It starts high up in the Bighorn Mountains, near the Shell Lakes. Imagine it beginning at over 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) high! From there, it tumbles down the western side of the Bighorn Mountains. It flows through a cool place called Shell Canyon. Then, it enters the Big Horn Basin near the town of Shell, Wyoming. Finally, it meets the Bighorn River just north of Greybull.
What is a Watershed?
A "watershed" is like a giant bowl that collects all the rain and snow. All the water in that bowl eventually drains into one main river or creek. The Shell Creek watershed covers a huge area of about 370,500 acres (1,500 square kilometers).
Most of this land (73%) is natural rangeland, which is open land where animals graze. About 24% is forest, full of trees. A small part (3%) is used for farming, like growing crops or hay.
Water for Farms and Towns
Over 10,500 acres (42.5 square kilometers) of land in the Shell Creek watershed are irrigated. This means water is brought to these farms to help crops grow. Most of this irrigated land is in the lower part of the creek, downstream from the town of Shell. About 7,500 acres (30 square kilometers) get their water directly from Shell Creek.
Shell Creek also provides drinking water! A part of the creek's water is sent through a pipeline. This pipeline carries water all the way to the town of Greybull, providing water for its residents.
Traveling Along Shell Creek
You can travel alongside Shell Creek through Shell Canyon. US 14, also known as the Bighorn Scenic Byway, follows the creek. This modern highway helps people explore the beautiful area.
Much of this road was built in the mid-1960s. It was made even better with major improvements in the 1980s. So, it's a relatively new road that makes it easy to see the stunning views of Shell Creek and the canyon.
