Silvies River

The Silvies River is a river in eastern Oregon. It is unique among Oregon rivers for not draining ultimately into an ocean, and reverse forking (see river delta) before terminating. The length is approximately 90 miles, but varies substantially with the size of the terminating lake. It drains a significant amount of the northern Harney Basin.

The headwaters are near the southern edge of the Blue Mountains peak named Strawberry Mountain which is approximately 10 miles southeast of John Day, Oregon and about 45 miles NNE of Burns. Significant tributaries of this arid area include "Bear Creek" and "Emigrant Creek". The river runs generally southward and passes near Seneca, Oregon and Burns, Oregon. A few miles southeast of Burns, the river splits into two rivers, East Fork Silvies River and West Fork Silvies River. Both terminate at Malheur Lake about 25 miles southeast of Burns. Due to historic and seasonal variations in the level of Malheur Lake, the river's length varies substantially.

References

* [http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/dpn/images/silvies-photos.htm U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo gallery of Silvies River]
* [http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/dpn/images/silvies-map1.htm Corp of Engineers basin map]

ee also

*List of Oregon rivers
*Malheur National Wildlife Refuge