Black River (Chehalis River tributary)

The Black River is a river in Thurston County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is approximately 25 miles (40 km) long with a drainage basin of about 144 square miles (370 km2).[1]

Black River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyThurston County
Physical characteristics
Mouth 
 • coordinates
46°49′16″N 123°13′10″W
Length25 miles (40 km)
Basin size144 square miles (370 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionBlack River→ Chehalis River→ Pacific Ocean
Flooding on the Black River

History

The fur trader John Work was the first to describe the Black River in 1824: "The Black River so named from the colour of its water ... A great many dead salmon are in the river, and many that are just alive and barely able to move through the water."[2]

Course

The Black River's source is Black Lake, located about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Tumwater. The river flows generally south, through Littlerock, near the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, then southwest, passing through the Black River Habitat Management Area and the town of Rochester, before meandering west through the community of Gate and entering Grays Harbor County, where it empties into the Chehalis River in the Chehalis Indian Reservation.[3]

The Black River Unit of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge extends about 5 miles (8 km) along the river immediately south of Black Lake.

See also

References
  1. "Chehalis River Basin Nonpoint Action Plan - Black River". Chehalis River Council. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  2. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  3. Course info mainly from: Washington Road & Recreation Atlas. Benchmark Maps. 2000. and


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