Weber River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weber River |
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A map of the Weber River
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Uinta Mountains Utah |
| River mouth | Great Salt Lake |
| Length | 125 mi (201 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,627 sq mi (4,210 km2) |
The Weber River is a cool river in northern Utah, United States. It's about 125 miles (201 km) long! This river starts high up in the Uinta Mountains and flows all the way to the Great Salt Lake. It was named after an American fur trapper named John Henry Weber.
Contents
The River's Journey
The Weber River begins its adventure in the northwest part of the Uinta Mountains. It starts near tall peaks like Bald Mountain. As it flows, it passes by towns such as Oakley.
Lakes and Tributaries
The river helps fill Rockport Lake, a large reservoir. Then, it turns north and gets more water from other streams. Two important streams that join it are Silver Creek and Chalk Creek, near Coalville. Coalville is also close to the upper part of Echo Reservoir.
After leaving Echo Reservoir, the river flows past Henefer. It then turns west and goes through Morgan, where East Canyon Creek adds more water.
Flowing to the Great Salt Lake
The Weber River leaves the mountains at Uintah, through a place called Weber Canyon. It turns north again and meets the Ogden River west of Ogden. The combined rivers then wind across flat lands. Finally, the Weber River flows into the Great Salt Lake. It provides about 25 percent of all the water that enters the lake!
Animals and Plants of the River
The Weber River is home to many kinds of fish. You can find brook, brown, and rainbow trout. There are also special fish like the Bonneville cutthroat trout. Another fish found here is the mountain whitefish.
A rare plant also lives along the Weber River. It's called Stephanomeria occultata, or Hidden Wirelettuce. This plant only grows on rocky slopes near the river.
How People Use the River
People have used the Weber River for a very long time. Its water is important for irrigation, which means watering crops and fields. The United States Bureau of Reclamation has a big plan called the Weber Basin Project. This project helps manage the river's water.
Dams on the River
There are dams built on the Weber River to help control the water. One dam is the Wanship Dam, which created Rockport Reservoir. It was finished in 1957. Another important dam is Echo Dam, completed in 1931. The entire area that collects water for the Weber River is about 2,500 square miles (6,500 km²).
