Santa Maria River (Arizona)

Infobox_River
river_name = Santa Maria River


image_size = 150 px
caption = Seasonal flows in the Arrastra wilderness
origin =
mouth = Alamo Lake
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|50|mi
elevation = convert|2640|ft
mouth_elevation = convert|1240|ft
discharge = convert|11.59|cuft|lk=on per seccite web|url=http://www.azwater.gov/dwr/Content/Find_by_Category/ABCs_of_Water/Rural_AZ/UpperColorado/Bill_Williams_Watershed.pdf|title=ANNUAL FLOWS FOR USGS STREAMGAGING STATIONS IN THE BILL WILLIAMS WATERSHED|accessdate=2008-05-27|publisher=Arizona Department of Water Resources]
watershed =

The Santa Maria River is an intermittent stream located in western Arizona. It is a primary tributary of the Bill Williams River and one of the main sources of inflow for Alamo Lake. The river forms a portion of the boundary between Mohave and La Paz counties.

Course

The Santa Maria River is formed by the confluence of the Sycamore and Kirkland Creeks, about convert|10|mi east of the community of Bagdad. From the confluence, the river flows in a generally southwesterly direction through the rugged Arrastra Mountain Wilderness area. The river accepts a number of smaller, intermittent streams throughout its length.

The river joins the Big Sandy River to form the Bill Williams River just upstream of Alamo Lake. During periods of heavy rainfall, the lake may extend beyond the confluence point, during which period the Santa Maria empties directly into the lake rather than joining the Big Sandy River.

The total length of the river is approximately convert|50|mi, convert|17|mi of which are considered perennial stream. The remainder is ephemeral and runs only during periods of heavy rain.

External links

* [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09424900 Realtime monitoring of stream discharge]

References