The Chewuch River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington.

Chewuch River
Chewuch River is located in Washington (state)
Chewuch River
Location of the mouth of the Chewuch River in Washington
Chewuch River is located in the United States
Chewuch River
Chewuch River (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
RegionOkanogan County
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Remmell and Cathedral Creeks
 • coordinates48°56′45″N 120°9′39″W / 48.94583°N 120.16083°W / 48.94583; -120.16083[1]
 • elevation5,590 ft (1,700 m)[2]
MouthMethow River
 • location
Winthrop, Washington
 • coordinates
48°28′35″N 120°11′0″W / 48.47639°N 120.18333°W / 48.47639; -120.18333[1]
 • elevation
1,750 ft (530 m)[2]
Length45 mi (72 km)[1]
Basin size525 sq mi (1,360 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • average370 cu ft/s (10 m3/s)
 • minimum20 cu ft/s (0.57 m3/s)
 • maximum6,010 cu ft/s (170 m3/s)

Its name comes from the word /cwáx/ [čwáx] in the Columbia-Moses language meaning "creek".[4]

The river valley was also the site of the Thirty Mile Fire which killed four fire fighters in July 2001.[5]

Course edit

The Chewuch River originates in the Cascade Range northeast of Remmel Mountain at the junction of Remmel Creek and Cathedral Creek. It flows generally south to join the Methow River at Winthrop. The Methow empties into the Columbia River. Tributaries of the Chewuch River include Andrews Creek, Lake Creek, Eightmile Creek, and Cub Creek.[3]

Just below the mouth of Meadow Creek, the river cascades about 30 feet (9 m) over Chewuch Falls.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chewuch River
  2. ^ a b Calculated via Google Earth
  3. ^ a b Washington Water Year 2005, USGS Water Resources Data
  4. ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Thirtymile Fire Investigation" (PDF). United States Forest Service. Retrieved 2012-09-23.