Swan River (Montana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swan River |
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Swan River National Wildlife Refuge
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Gray Wolf Lake Mission Mountains, Missoula County 6,650 ft (2,030 m) 47°17′48″N 113°52′04″W / 47.29667°N 113.86778°W |
| River mouth | Flathead Lake Bigfork, Flathead County 2,897 ft (883 m) 48°03′35″N 114°04′51″W / 48.05972°N 114.08083°W |
| Length | 95 mi (153 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 671 sq mi (1,740 km2) |
The Swan River is a 95-mile (153 km) long river in western Montana, United States. It flows north through a special valley called the Swan Valley. This valley is nestled between the Swan Range mountains to the east and the Mission Mountains to the west.
Contents
River's Journey: Where Does the Swan River Flow?
The Swan River starts at Gray Wolf Lake in the Mission Mountains. This lake is about 6,650 feet (2,027 meters) above sea level. The river gets some of its water from the melting Gray Wolf Glacier.
From the lake, the river flows down a short, steep canyon to Lindbergh Lake. Then, it turns north, passing by the town of Condon. It travels about 75 miles (121 km) before reaching the northern end of the valley. Here, it flows into Swan Lake.
After flowing through Swan Lake, the river enters the Flathead Valley. It then makes a sharp turn west through a canyon. Finally, it empties into Flathead Lake near the town of Bigfork. The water from Flathead Lake eventually joins the Flathead River, which is a big part of the Columbia River system.
Tributaries: Streams Joining the Swan River
Many smaller streams flow into the Swan River from the mountains on both sides of its valley.
- From the west, coming from the Mission Mountains, streams like Glacier, Elk, Cold, Jim, Piper, Woodward, Whitetail, and Porcupine Creeks join the river.
- From the east, flowing from the Swan Range, streams like Holland, Smith, Alder, Lion, Goat, Soup, and Lost Creeks add to the river's flow.
- Below Swan Lake, Bear and Mud Creeks also join the river from the east.
Montana Highway 83 runs alongside the river for much of its length, from the Bigfork area to near Lindbergh Lake.
Swan River's History: How it Got its Name
There are two main ideas about how the Swan River got its name.
- Some people believe it was named because many trumpeter swans used to live in Swan Lake in the 1880s. However, these swans are not found there today.
- Another idea is that the river and lake were named after Emmett Swan. He was one of the first white settlers in the Swan Valley.
Early maps from 1884 called the river and Swan Lake the "Sweatinghouse River" and "Sweatinghouse Lake." But by 1895, most maps used the name "Swan." This name was likely suggested by early English hunters in the area. Local people also started using it.
In the early 1900s, there were reports that trumpeter swans were becoming very rare in Montana. The Kootenai Indians said that swans used to nest in the Flathead Valley until white settlers arrived in 1886. Swans were known to nest at places like Lake Rodgers, Swan Lake, and on the east side of Flathead Lake.
Logging and River Challenges
The U.S. Forest Service allowed logging in the Swan Valley starting in 1907. Early loggers tried to float timber down the Swan River. This was hard because the river is narrow and winding. A lot of the timber got stuck on the banks and sandbars, forming big log jams that are still there today.
Historical Events: The Swan Valley Incident
In 1908, an event called the Swan Valley Massacre happened. It was a conflict between people from the Pend d'Oreilles tribe and a Montana game warden. Four Native Americans and the warden were killed. This happened because of a disagreement over tribal hunting rights outside of reservation lands. The Montana government reportedly did not respect these rights at the time.
River's Environment: The Swan River Watershed
The Swan River watershed is the area of land that drains into the river. It covers about 671 square miles (1,738 square kilometers). This area includes parts of Missoula County, Lake County, and a small part of Flathead County.
The Swan Valley was shaped by glaciers long ago. It is known as Montana's most water-rich watershed. It has over 4,000 lakes, ponds, and wetlands, which cover about 16 percent of the total area. There are also an estimated 1,300 miles (2,092 km) of rivers and streams in the watershed.
People and Economy in the Valley
Not many people live in the Swan River watershed. There are fewer than 1.6 people per square mile. The total population is about 1,000 people, mostly living near Bigfork at the northern end of the valley. The main economic activity in the area is logging.
Geologically, the Swan Valley is connected to the valley of the Clearwater River. The Clearwater River flows south through Seeley Lake to join the Blackfoot River. The valleys of these two rivers are often called the Seeley-Swan area.
River Modifications: The Bigfork Dam
The Bigfork Dam is built on the Swan River about 1 mile (1.6 km) before it reaches Flathead Lake. This dam creates electricity. It can produce about 4,000 kilowatts of hydroelectricity when it's working at its peak. The company PacifiCorp operates the dam and its reservoir.
The dam was first built in 1902. It had a special "fish ladder" to help fish move past it. However, this ladder did not work well. As a result, the dam separated the fish populations in the Swan River from those in Flathead Lake.
Fun on the River: Recreation and Fishing
The part of the Swan River between Bigfork Dam and Flathead Lake is called the "Wild Mile." It's known for its very difficult whitewater rapids, which drop over 100 feet (30 meters). The Bigfork Whitewater Festival is held here every year in mid-May.
Above the Bigfork Dam, the river is calmer. However, it can still be dangerous in the spring when the water levels are high. The river also has many log jams, which can be risky for people in boats.
The Swan River is also a good place for fishing, especially for bull trout. But the number of bull trout has been going down. This is likely because lake trout were introduced into the river around 1998. Anglers started catching lake trout in the river around that time.
