Tumalo Creek

Tumalo Creek is a tributary, about 20 miles (32 km) long,[4] of the Deschutes River, located in Deschutes County in Central Oregon, United States. It rises in the Cascade Range at 44.04706°N 121.598647°W / 44.04706; -121.598647 (Tumalo Creek source), where Middle Fork Tumalo Creek and North Fork Tumalo Creek meet, and forms several waterfalls, including the 97-foot (30 m) Tumalo Falls. Its mouth is on the Deschutes at 44.1159506°N 121.3394783°W / 44.1159506; -121.3394783.[7]

Tumalo Creek
Below Tumalo Falls
Tumalo Creek is located in Oregon
Tumalo Creek
Location of the mouth of Tumalo Creek in Oregon
EtymologyPerhaps from the Klamath word for wild plum[1]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyDeschutes
Physical characteristics
Sourceconfluence of Middle and North forks of Tumalo Creek
 • locationDeschutes National Forest near Mount Bachelor, Cascade Range
 • coordinates44°02′49″N 121°35′55″W[2]
 • elevation5,597 ft (1,706 m)[3]
MouthDeschutes River
 • location
north of Bend, upstream of Tumalo State Park
 • coordinates
44°06′57″N 121°20′22″W[2]
 • elevation
3,245 ft (989 m)[2]
Length20 mi (32 km)[4]
Basin size59 sq mi (150 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • average75 cu ft/s (2.1 m3/s)[6]
 • maximum250 cu ft/s (7.1 m3/s)

It is home to several species of trout, including the Columbia River redband trout. It is the primary drinking water source for the city of Bend.[8] The lower reaches of the creek are often emptied for irrigation, drained by a tunnel flume at 44.09589°N 121.35966°W / 44.09589; -121.35966 (Tumalo Creek tunnel flume) and Tumalo Canal at 44.09591°N 121.35970°W / 44.09591; -121.35970 (Tumalo Canal source).

In 1883, the first known canal to be dug from the creek was created to divert water to farms.[9] The 1979 Bridge Creek Fire and related salvage logging increased erosion and damaged habitats in and near Tumalo Creek. Since 2003, a network of government agencies and volunteer groups have been working to restore fish and wildlife habitat along a 3-mile (5 km) stretch of the stream.[10]

See also

References
  1. McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 973. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  2. "Tumalo Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  3. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 249. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.
  5. United States Forest Service. "Tumalo Creek Bridge to Bridge Restoration Environmental Assessment" (PDF). University of Oregon. p. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  6. "Tumalo Creek". Deschutes River Conservancy. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  7. "Tumalo Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 28 November 1980. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  8. Lindsey, Ethan (June 10, 2009). "Bend considers building a hydroelectric project on Tumalo Creek". OPB News. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  9. "About Us". Tumalo Irrigation District. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  10. "Tumalo Creek Restoration Project". Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
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