White River (Price River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White River |
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 Location of mouth of the White River
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| Region | Wasatch County, Utah and Utah County, Utah Counties |
| Cities | Soldier Summit, Colton |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of Left Fork White River and Right Fork White River, east of Soldier Summit, Utah 7,362 ft (2,244 m) 39°55′25″N 111°03′25″W / 39.92365°N 111.05689°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Price River Colton, Utah 7,162 ft (2,183 m) 39°50′19″N 111°00′24″W / 39.83856°N 111.00670°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The White River is a small river in eastern Utah. It is about 8 miles (13 km) long. The river flows southeast through Wasatch and Utah Counties.
The White River is a tributary to the Price River. The Price River then flows into the Green River. Finally, the Green River joins the large Colorado River.
History of the White River
Long ago, pioneers used the White River as a path. These travelers were going north from areas like the Castle or Price River Valley.
They would follow the White River uphill to a place near Soldier Summit. From there, they would go down through Soldier Creek canyon. This path helped them reach cities in the Utah and Salt Lake Valleys.
Where the White River Flows
The main part of the White River starts about 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Soldier Summit. It forms where two smaller streams meet. These streams are called the Left Fork White River and the Right Fork White River.
The Left Fork starts on the side of Willow Creek Ridge. The Right Fork drains water from Reservation Ridge. Most of the river's upper area is in Wasatch County. This area is part of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
The Left Fork also has a smaller stream called the Middle Fork White River that flows into it. As the White River flows southeast along U.S. Route 6, another stream called Tabbyune Creek joins it. The White River ends when it meets the Price River in Colton, which is in Utah County.
Fish and Wildlife in the White River
The White River and other streams that feed the Price River are home to special fish. One important fish is the Colorado River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki pleuriticus).
These cutthroat trout are now found in very few places. They live in less than 1% of the areas they used to live in. This is because they face challenges. One problem is that they can breed with rainbow trout, which are not native to the area. Also, other non-native fish like brown trout (Salmo trutta) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) compete with them for food and space.
Other fish you might find in the White River watershed include:
- Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii)
- Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)
- Mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus)
