Middle Fork Stanislaus River
Middle Fork below Highway 108
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of Kennedy and Summit Creeks
 • coordinates38°17′39″N 119°43′49″W / 38.29417°N 119.73028°W / 38.29417; -119.73028[1]
 • elevation6,644 ft (2,025 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Stanislaus River
 • coordinates
38°09′15″N 120°21′27″W / 38.15417°N 120.35750°W / 38.15417; -120.35750[1]
 • elevation
1,230 ft (370 m)
Length45.7 mi (73.5 km)
Basin size332 sq mi (860 km2)
Discharge 
 • average689 cu ft/s (19.5 m3/s)[2]
Basin features
ProgressionStanislaus–San Joaquin

The Middle Fork Stanislaus River is a 45.7-mile (73.5 km)[3] tributary of the Stanislaus River in the central Sierra Nevada and Stanislaus National Forest of eastern California.

Geography

The river begins at the confluence of Kennedy Creek and Summit Creek in the Emigrant Wilderness. It flows initially northwest, receiving the Clark Fork from the right then turning southwest, through a deep canyon to its confluence with the North Fork Stanislaus River, forming the Stanislaus River. The river drains a watershed of 332 square miles (860 km2)[4] in Tuolumne County, much of it within the Stanislaus National Forest.

Power and water infrastructure

There are four dams on the main stem of the Middle Fork – at Donnells, Beardsley, Beardsley Forebay and Sand Bar Flat. The only significant tributary impoundment is Relief Reservoir, formed by Relief Dam on Summit Creek. Middle Fork water is managed by the Spring Gap–Stanislaus hydroelectric project, owned by Pacific Gas and Electric, and the Tri-Dam project owned by the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts.[5][6]

Tunnels connect the four mainstem reservoirs to take advantage of the hydraulic head created by the Middle Fork's steep drop. The final tunnel, from Sand Bar Flat, enters the main Stanislaus River about 2 miles (3.2 km) below the mouth of the Middle Fork, at the head of New Melones Lake reservoir. As a result, much of the Middle Fork is dewatered during the drier months.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Middle Fork Stanislaus River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  2. ↑ 11293000&por_11293000_1= 2208899,00060,1,1905-10,1966-09&format=html_table&date_format=YYYY-MM-DD&rdb_compression=file&submitted_form=parameter_selection_list "USGS Gage #11293000 on the Stanislaus River at SBF near Avery, CA". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1905–1966. Retrieved 2013-10-20. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ↑ USGS Topo Maps for United States (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  4. ↑ "USGS Gage #11293200 on the Middle Fork Stanislaus River below Sand Bar Diversion Dam, near Avery, CA" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1985–2012. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  5. 1 2 "Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2130–033" (PDF). Pinecrest Lake Recreation Improvements. 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to the Tri-Dam Project". Tri-Dam Project (Oakdale and South San Joaquin Irrigation Districts). Retrieved 2013-10-20.
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