White Riveris ariver,approximately 195 miles (314 km) long, in the U.S. states ofColoradoandUtahand is atributaryof theGreen River(which flows into theColorado River).[4][1]
| White River Rio Blanco | |
|---|---|
 The White River inUintah County, Utah | |
 Map of the White River watershed | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado,Utah |
| Cities | Meeker, Colorado,Rangely, Colorado,Bonanza, Utah,Ouray, Utah |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of North Fork and South Fork |
| • location | Rio Blanco County,Colorado |
| • coordinates | 39°58′22″N107°38′18″W/ 39.97278°N 107.63833°W[1] |
| • elevation | 6,932 ft (2,113 m) |
| Mouth | Green River |
• location | Uintah County,Utah |
• coordinates | 40°03′44″N109°40′45″W/ 40.06222°N 109.67917°W[1] |
• elevation | 4,646 ft (1,416 m) |
| Length | 195 mi (314 km) |
| Basin size | 5,120 sq mi (13,300 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Watson,Utah[2] |
| • average | 689 cu ft/s (19.5 m3/s)[3] |
| • minimum | 13 cu ft/s (0.37 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 8,160 cu ft/s (231 m3/s) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Colorado River |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | South Fork White River |
| • right | North Fork White River |
Description
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The river rises in two forks in northwestern Colorado in northeasternGarfield Countyin theFlat Tops Wilderness Areain theWhite River National Forest.The North Fork rises in Wall Lake and flows northwest, then southwest. The South Fork rises ten miles south of the north, flows southwest, then northwest, pastSpring Cave.The two forks join nearBufordin easternRio Blanco County,forming the White. It flows west, then northwest, pastMeeker(site of theWhite River Museum), and across the broad valley between theDanforth Hillson the north and theRoan Plateauon the south. Downstream from Meeker, it is joined byPiceance CreekandYellow Creek.In western Rio Blanco County, it turns southwest, flows pastRangely,where it is joined by Douglas Creek, and intoUintah County, Utah,where it joins the Green 2 miles (3.2 km) south ofOuray.
The White River is navigable by small boats throughout most of its length. But in low water years, the water level may be too low for navigation for a period of several months. Flows vary from 400 cu ft/s (11 m3/s) in late summers of dry years to well over 3,000 cu ft/s (85 m3/s) in spring.
Dams and reservoirs
editThe river is dammed in two places, both in Colorado. Taylor Draw Dam[5]createsKenney ReservoirnearRangely,and the Johnnie Johnson Dam impoundsRio Blanco LakenearWhite River City.[6]
Climate
editAccording to theKöppen climate classificationsystem, White River has asemi-arid climate,abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: White River
- ^"USGS Gage #09306500 on the White River near Watson, Utah"(PDF).National Water Information System: 1923–present.U.S. Geological Survey. 2009.Retrieved2011-01-16.
- ^"USGS Gage #09306500 on the White River near Watson, Utah"(PDF).National Water Information System: 1923–present.U.S. Geological Survey. 2009.Retrieved2011-01-16.
- ^The National Map(Map).United States Geological Survey.§ National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data.Retrieved18 Mar2011.
- ^"Taylor Draw Dam".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.28 July 2013.
- ^"Johnnie Johnson Dam".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.1 September 1994.
- ^"Climate Summary for White River".weatherbase.Retrieved6 Jan2017.
External links
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Media related toWhite River (Green River)at Wikimedia Commons