Rubicon River (California)

The Rubicon River is a river in eastern Northern California, west of Lake Tahoe. It is a tributary of the American River, and is convert|60|mi|km|0 long and with a watershed of about convert|184|sqmi|km2|0. The river's headwaters are in the Crystal Mountains of the Sierra Nevadas, within the Eldorado National Forest's Desolation Wilderness. Historically, the Rubicon River was known as the South Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River.

The Rubicon River originates at convert|9900|ft|m|0 near Clyde Lake in El Dorado County. It flows north-northwest for approximately convert|8|mi|km|1|abbr=on until it reaches the Rubicon Reservoir. The river then travels northwest and within convert|4.8|mi|km|1|abbr=on of the Rubicon Reservoir is met by Highland Creek, Miller Creek and the Little Rubicon River. It continues northwest for approximately convert|5|mi|km|0|abbr=on to Hell Hole Reservoir. Shortly after the river begins flowing southwest from the reservoir, it serves as a border between El Dorado and Placer Counties, and joins the South Fork of the Rubicon River.

The South Fork of the Rubicon River originates about a mile southeast of Loon Lake. It flows southeast for several miles until it is joined by Gerle Creek, and then travels west to its confluence with the Rubicon River. The river slowly changes course and eventually heads northwest again, finally, joining the Middle Fork of the American River about convert|20|mi|km|0|abbr=on northeast of Auburn. The Middle Fork meets the North Fork of the American River in the Auburn State Recreation Area below the Foresthill Bridge, and flows into Folsom Lake.

The reservoirs and trails along the Rubicon River are recreation areas, managed primarily by the Eldorado National Forest.

References

*http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado
* [http://hydrorelicensing.smud.org/docs/license_docs/PDEA/5_0and5_1.pdf Sacramento Municipal Utility District] (PDF)
* [http://www.bartleby.com/69/98/R05098.html Columbia Gazetteer of North America]
* [http://www.carcd.org/wisp/placer/lr-plan.htm California Association of Resource Conservation Districts] It is in California