roy flows miles oregon northern california united_states pacific_ocean average discharge second largest river california drains extensive watershed square miles km2 stretches arid country south central oregon temperate pacific_coast unlike rivers begins plains flows mountains carving way rugged cascade range reaching sea upper basin contained vast freshwater marshes provided habitat abundant wildlife including millions migratory birds largely agricultural european settling mountainous lower basin remains wild watershed known peculiar geography called river upside magazine important coastal river south fish migration salmon rainbow trout adapted unusually high water temperatures levels relative rivers pacific_northwest numerous fish major source food native americans inhabited basin years europeans enter basin fur 1820s established trail trinity rivers decades white settlement native peoples forced reservations days increasing numbers miners began working tributaries impact surrounding environment highly detrimental impact native american tribes greed left tribes indigenous population operated briefly large lakes upper basin replaced railroads late 19th century 19th 20th centuries upper basin rich agricultural region dams built provide irrigation water hydroelectric power 1960s targeted larger scheme augment water supplies central southern california works includes longest free flowing stretches river california excellent runs popular recreational river dams upper basin caused water quality issues lower half environmental groups native tribes proposed broad changes water use principally removal dams river expand fish habitat forth concerns water management plan signed local communities governments tribal groups fishermen proposal endorsed interior authorized united_states congress course filling broad valley foot eastern slope southern source begin miles away far oregon nevada border mile stretch known long river mile long reservoir near connected canal capable water rivers direction needed passes nearly dry bed flows reservoir passes hydroelectric dams crosses oregon california state border turns south near town mount river soon swings west receive cutting deep head canyon route high western constitutes majority river course takes arid high desert climate upper watershed temperate pacific rains confluence river generally runs west south takes sharp southward turn near town happy camp flows southwest receiving passes unincorporated community river reaches southernmost point entire course sharply northwards receives confluence marks point current dramatically remainder course flows generally northwest passing town flowing sea miles south mouth area shared national park estuary recognized protection watershed extending arid eastern oregon cold rainy coast watershed drains parts oregon counties counties california includes diversity landscapes northernmost watershed high desert country drained flow generally southwest middle basin characterized extensive wetland grassland agricultural areas partially filled major bodies water upper lower lake extensive lower basin encompasses half square mile km2 watershed composed mainly rugged mountains forests west_coast interior drainage basins border northwest oregon california east closed small portion south watershed bounded upper tributaries including southwest western boundary upper formed southernmost cascade range cover southwestern watershed rivers begins east flows pacific_ocean columbia human use watershed limited upper basin despite climate dams built irrigation water supplied lost rivers plentiful drawn transform upper farmland years ago rainy season combine giant freshwater marsh nearly square miles km2 large combined square miles km2 formed temporary habitat millions migratory birds lakes remnants large ice age lake covered square miles km2 developed exception million migrating birds pass watershed year despite plentiful flow california supply significant amounts water municipal users central southern portions state area supplies water local water supply irrigation water tributaries including lost rivers diverted irrigation water use lower relatively free flowing rivers state california debated decades tribes government agencies eventual fate unclear tributaries tributaries river listed numbers tributary names denote river miles river kilometers enter specific tributary listed flooding lower middle sections vulnerable flooding major floods occurred years major flooding taken place particularly wake storms bring large amounts warm rain significant floods occurred cases changing course river christmas flood particularly devastating high water reaching feet towns destroying highway bridge crossing river highway bridge rebuilt different location entrances old bridge stand mouth nearby sections river susceptible oceanic fatalities occurred pacific geology upper basin defined drainage area unique transitional area west northern southeast region extends southern area basins stretching block created topography characteristics similar regions entire basin region bearing basin range characteristics formed uplifting north south faults rock compose formation crosses region rises surface large solid rock ridges underlying rocks generally younger east west ridges crossing upper divide valleys feet vertical relief drainage patterns generally follow topography extensive system occurs deep underground upper basin creating hot springs springs understood south area underlying rock composed lava flows issuing mount volcanic region age pattern true cascade range cover western half watershed moved slowly southwestward past million years successive oceanic dating late added bulk north american continent distinct west east coastal mountains date million years ago farther inland high old million years granite rock volcanic rock southwestern oregon northwestern california instead diverted southwards continued flow westward created steep walled gorge rising range brought long north south running band easily eroded lies miles inland pacific_coast encountered layer began cutting canyon instead continuing southwest pacific resulting sharp northward bend trinity river joins lower trinity follows portions south fork history early inhabitants settlers human dates years ago native american groups river depended vast runs pacific salmon second tribes included mid upper river lower river arid valleys upper basin tribe controlled miles half middle upper flowing great tribal lands probably powerful tribes tribe controlling miles lower large section coast lower mid upper tribes caught salmon river basket traps known ancient fishing ground set river near confluence upstream groups nomadic hunting gathering lifestyle depend salmon downstream tribes recorded europeans 19th century derived word prior white contact names refer river including tribe came word literally river late 1820s fur traveling south fort vancouver reached basin party led winter smith fur trapping expedition helped camped east clerk wrote smith purchases beaver suggesting beaver plentiful trinity fur bearing noted beaver present tributaries cited fish game report beaver high prairie creek mouth near california matter years plentiful wiped beaver dams previously important factor stream habitat watershed helping moderate power floods creating extensive wetlands loss beaver dams resulted detrimental consequences basin power winter floods causing severe erosion trapping parties eventually moved southwest extension trail early path despite environmental implications extensive fertile meadows left draining beaver ponds attracted settlers region later 1850s saw discoveries rich gold deposits predominantly areas trinity rivers northwestern california 1850s brought greed fueled indigenous people inhabiting regions villages men women children shot potential gold extracted gold thought originated volcanic activity miners searching gold aftermath discovered gold salmon creek spring additional deposits found main stem july gold discovered great quantities lands french place names originate era including named pioneer gold deposits present watershed mined far past end gold rush native americans surrounding area signed treaty million acres land united_states forced newly created reservation tribes small area eventually tribes began profit sale timber produced reservation distributed lack consideration differing tribes congress removed federal recognition reservation longer economically successful tribes won federal recognition 1970s poverty widespread tribal members early industry development beginning early 20th century began operating california oregon completed link railroad branch line following final called california end line landing beginning lower lake line began operating foot screw steamer railroad directly line fell later drained filled early 1910s 1920s logging growing industry west upper valley especially great northern railway built joint use line running eastern shore lake delivering logs north miles downstream outlet lake seasonal surrounding lake rivers period host lumber operations timber dam constructed outlet raising feet continued mail passenger freight operations period lumber companies shut drought lumber declining industry upper economy slowly transitioned agriculture established early 20th century involved construction dams river additional dams tributaries final draining user river period late 1950s constructed dams river downstream dams sparked great controversy water quality lower section river dependence river annual salmon runs natural history river considered prime habitat salmon salmon rainbow trout river largest producer salmon west_coast today fraction river historic runs remain construction dams salmon listed threatened endangered species act upper largest single tributary virtually removed drainage completion percent trinity flow cubic feet second main stem dams left flow minimum annual trinity flow acre feet established cubic feet second 1920s 1960s hydroelectric dams built successor main stem blocking salmon migration trapping sediment downstream gravel bars spawning salmon possible removal dams controversial issue region recent years despite intense lobbying local native american tribes fishermen renewal application year federal operating license dams include provisions allowing salmon return miles habitat dams january federal government ruled equip dams fish modification potentially cost million offered million upgrade fish ladder proposed fish number dams having denied license build power generator utah president defended company activities area pointing benefits separate controversy surrounds use water agriculture temporarily halted protect endangered salmon lake fish severe drought vice president personally intervened ensure water agriculture industry environmental flow federal government interior secretary provided water deliveries drought continued despite fact area tribes treaty rights settlement farmers argued free market approach allowing farmers sell water native americans downstream year system largest fish die recorded investigated vice president having released extra water possible political gain according low flow river high fish return numbers high water temperatures allowed gill disease kill salmon september reproduce die downstream trinity salmon trinity impacted greater degree trinity run peak report mention official fish die estimate probably low half actual loss flows measured river gauge low flow cubic feet second september irrigation began fish kill flows cubic feet second recorded september irrigation shut average cubic feet second recorded approved plan introduced california state government plan called major cleanup lower river order protect salmon nitrogen oxygen demand expressed concern high water temperatures low oxygen levels certain fish adapted issues environmental groups government agencies native american tribes basin worked reduce pollution levels salmon controversy historically productive salmon river system united_states columbia sacramento raised water temperatures induced construction dams created conditions migrating salmon especially years drought irrigation upper scott rivers total diversion upper lowered total river flow supporting migrating young salmon spring migrating adult salmon fall 1960s project proposed divert entire southern_california undertaking known project defeated limited salmon miles entire river major fish kill took toll river tribes depend died low waters poor compassion charge applied federal government hydroelectric dams years opposed arguing dams removed reopen upper salmon agreement signed february years closed door negotiations farmers indian tribes fishermen conservation groups government agencies resulted plan work detailed settlement water usage called removal hydroelectric dams iron gate dam dams california john dam oregon operating miles starting year restoration projects non binding agreement principle parties federal government california oregon remove dams announced november fund plan state california fund remaining projected cost total cost million agreement required federal government scientifically assess costs benefits dam determine action public interest final determination march benefits project justify costs deadline missed local group formed oppose agreement succeeded local elected officials supportive deal december parties renewed agreement providing time federal congressional california electorate approval dam removal april interior released final environmental impact statement plan recommending removal dams billion environmental restoration aid native salmon runs senior senator oregon introduced fellow oregon senator nevada senator water rights dispute treaty signed tribes land short stream water needed fishing 1950s 1970s federally recognized tribes lost water rights farmers twice sued interior access irrigation water rights upheld tribes water fishing continue large factor water disputes 21st century tribe water rights enforced time known water tribe called stream water right enforced water master resulted upper basin irrigation denied water called recreation popular recreational activities upper lower downstream town happy camp long stretches miles instance class class iii narrower stretches river wider deeper channel miles river designated wild miles recreational sport fishing popular trout popular salmon highly sought low salmon returns prevent fishing fly fishing guide said productive rivers west_coast united_states recreational gold mining popular tributaries including salmon trinity simple methods methods use pumps practice involving turning deposits sediment spreading order find gold debates practice opponents contend damage water quality mercury fish habitat continue currently mining banned california variety national forests wildlife preserves including located watershed located small portion oregon located southern watershed watershed located lake area lava beds national monument contains large array lava tubes formations area south remnants lake prime spot open public watching gray whale migration look marine mammals host time year mile steep trail lower dramatic views tribe annual festival takes place
Klamath River