Willow Creek (Malheur River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willow Creek |
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 Location of the mouth of Willow Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Malheur |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Ironside 3,724 ft (1,135 m) 44°20′08″N 117°56′15″W / 44.33556°N 117.93750°W |
| River mouth | Malheur River near Vale 2,234 ft (681 m) 43°59′14″N 117°13′51″W / 43.98722°N 117.23083°W |
| Length | 57 mi (92 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 787 sq mi (2,040 km2) |
Willow Creek is a river in Oregon, United States. It flows for about 57 miles (92 km) and joins the Malheur River. This creek is found in Malheur County. It's an important part of the local environment and helps with farming in the area.
Contents
Willow Creek: A River's Journey
Willow Creek is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) long. It's a smaller river that flows into the Malheur River. You can find it in Malheur County, Oregon, in the United States. The land around Willow Creek is quite dry. Its watershed, which is the area of land that drains into the creek, covers about 787 square miles (2,040 km2).
Where Does Willow Creek Start?
The creek starts high up, at 3,724 feet (1,135 meters) above sea level. This is where its Middle and South forks (smaller streams) meet. This spot is a bit north of a town called Ironside.
From there, Willow Creek flows generally southeast. It passes by a place called Malheur Reservoir. This reservoir is like a big lake that holds water. The creek then continues past Huntington Junction and Brogan. It keeps flowing southeast, often alongside U.S. Route 26, a major highway.
The creek goes through towns like Jamieson and Willowcreek. Finally, it reaches Vale. Near Vale, Willow Creek flows into the Malheur River. This meeting point is about 19 miles (31 kilometers) from where the Malheur River joins the much larger Snake River. The creek ends its journey at 2,234 feet (681 meters) above sea level.
How People Use the Creek
Willow Creek is very important for the people living nearby. Its water is used for different things, especially farming.
Farming Around the Creek
The land around Willow Creek is used for irrigated farming. This means farmers use water from the creek to help their crops grow. They grow many different things, including:
- Sugar beets
- Onions
- Potatoes
- Corn
- Mint
- Grain
- Alfalfa seed
- Vegetable seed
- Hay
Between Brogan and Vale, parts of the creek have been changed. They are now used as canals to help drain water and bring water to farms. This helps the crops get enough water to grow well.
Gold and Silver Mining
Long ago, people also used Willow Creek for mining. Above Brogan, up to the Malheur Reservoir, people searched for gold and silver. They used a method called placer mining. This involves digging up the creek bed to find valuable minerals. The creek was dredged, meaning the bottom was dug out, to help with this mining.
Today, the amount of water flowing in Willow Creek is mostly controlled by the Malheur Reservoir. Water is released from the reservoir to manage the flow. The upper parts of the creek are still used for irrigation, helping farms get the water they need.
Fishing in Willow Creek
Willow Creek and its smaller forks are good places to go fishing. People can catch different types of trout here.
- Redband Trout: In the main part of the creek above Malheur Reservoir, and in the Middle and South Willow creeks, you can find native Great Basin redband trout. Sometimes, you might also catch trout that have escaped from the reservoir's hatchery.
- Rainbow Trout: The creeks also have a population of rainbow trout. Most of the fish caught are about 9 to 10 inches (23 to 25 centimeters) long.
Willow Creek and its forks are not usually crowded with many fishers. This means it can be a nice, quiet spot for fishing.
