Lochsa River

Geobox | River
name = Lochsa River
category = River

---

image_size =
image_caption = Headwaters near Powell
etymology = Flathead word for "rough water"
country = United States
country_

state = Idaho
district_type = County
district = Idaho
source = Confluence of Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creek, Bitterroot Mountains
source_location = Near Powell Ranger Station
source_region = Idaho County
source_state = Idaho
source_elevation_imperial = 3441
source_elevation_note = [Source elevation derived from Google Earth using Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) source coordinates.]
source_length_imperial =
source_lat_d = 46
source_lat_m = 30
source_lat_s = 30
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 114
source_long_m = 40
source_long_s = 54
source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note = cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)| publisher = United States Geological Survey (USGS) | date = June 21, 1979 | url = Gnis3|385022| title = Lochsa River | accessdaymonth = July 26, | accessyear = 2008]
mouth_name = Clearwater River
mouth_location = Lowell
mouth_district =
mouth_region = Idaho County
mouth_state = Idaho
mouth_country =
mouth_note =
mouth_lat_d = 46
mouth_lat_m = 08
mouth_lat_s = 25
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 115
mouth_long_m = 35
mouth_long_s = 58
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note =
mouth_elevation_imperial = 1453
mouth_elevation_note =
length_imperial = 70.1
length_round = 0
length_note = cite map
publisher = USGS and United States Forest Service
title = Rocky Point Quadrangle, Idaho, 7.5-Minute Series (Topographic)
edition = 1994 ]
watershed_imperial = 1180
watershed_round = 0
watershed_note = cite web | title = USGS 13337000 Lochsa River near Lowell ID | publisher = USGS |date = 2008 | url = http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=13337000| accessdaymonth = July 27, | accessyear = 2008]
discharge_location = Lowell, convert|0.9|mi|km|1 from mouth
discharge_round = 0
discharge_imperial = 2822
discharge_note = The average discharge rate was calculated by adding the average annual discharge rates at the USGS gauge at Lowell for the 77 calendar years, 1930–2006 and dividing by 77.]
discharge_max_imperial = 35100
discharge_min_imperial = 100
discharge1_location =
discharge1_imperial =
discharge1_note =

---

map_size =
map_caption = Lochsa and Selway rivers
map1 = Idaho Locator Map.png map1_size = 200
map1_caption = Location of the mouth of the Lochsa River in Idaho
map1_locator = Idaho
commons = The Lochsa River is located in the northwestern United States, in the mountains of North Central Idaho. It is one of two primary tributaries (with the Selway to the south) of the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River in the Clearwater National Forest. "Lochsa" is a Flathead word meaning "rough water". [cite book | last = Space | first = Ralph S. | title = The Lolo Trail, second edition | publisher = Historic Montana Publishing | date = 2001 | location = Missoula | pages = 21| isbn = 0-9663355-2-X] [cite web | title = Lochsa River Canyon | url = http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=2143 | work = Discovering Lewis & Clark
publisher = VIAs, Inc. | date = 1998 | accessdaymonth = July 30, | accessyear = 2008]

The Lochsa (pronounced "lock-saw") was included by the U.S. Congress in 1968 as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Lochsa and Selway rivers and their tributaries have no dams, and their flow is unregulated. In late spring, mid-May to mid-June, the Lochsa River is rated as one of the world's best for continuous whitewater.

The main stem of the Lochsa is convert|70|mi|km|0| long from its headwaters near Powell Ranger Station in the Bitterroots to Lowell, Idaho, where the Lochsa joins the Selway River to form the Middle Fork of the Clearwater. Over this distance, the river drops nearly convert|2000|ft|m from convert|3441|ft|m above sea level at Powell to convert|1453|ft|m|0 at Lowell.

The drainage basin for the Lochsa River system covers convert|1180|mi2|km2|0 in Idaho County. The river is fed by the melting of the significant snowpack of the Bitterroot Range.

Course

The Lochsa River begins at the confluence of Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creek (also called White Sand Creek) near the Powell Ranger Station in northeastern Idaho and flows convert|70.1|mi|km southwest to the small town of Lowell. Running parallel to U.S. Highway 12 for its entire length, the river winds through the Clearwater National Forest in the Bitterroot Mountains. Just below Lowell, the Lochsa and the Selway River join to form the Middle Fork Clearwater River.cite web | title = Online Topographic Maps from the United States Geological Survey | publisher = TopoQuest | date = 2008 | url = http://www.topoquest.com/ | accessdaymonth = August 23, | accessyear = 2008 ]

At its point of formation just west of Elk Summit Road 360, the Lochsa receives a small tributary, Walton Creek, from the left. The creek flows through a salmon-rearing station before entering the river. Slightly downstream from the salmon station, the Lochsa passes White Sand Campground on the right. About convert|1.5|mi|km later, it flows by the Powell Ranger Station and heliport and, shortly thereafter, Lochsa Lodge and Powell Campground, all on the right, and receives Cliff Creek and Jay Creek, both from the left.

Between convert|66|mi|km| and convert|65|mi|km| from the mouth, the Lochsa receives Papoose Creek from the right, then Robin Creek from the left, and passes Whitehouse Campground and Wendover Campground, both on the right, and receives Wendover Creek from the right. Cold Storage Creek enters from the right at about convert|64|mi|km from the mouth. Eagle Creek enters from the left about convert|1|mi|km later, and Badger Creek from the right convert|1|mi|km further on. Between convert|60|mi|km and convert|50|mi|km from the mouth, the river receives Doe Creek from the right, passes under the Jerry Johnson Pack Bridge, receives Burnt Creek from the right and Warm Springs Creek from the left; passes Jerry Johnson Campground on the right; receives Colgate Creek from the left and Mink Creek on the right; passes Colgate Warm Springs and the Colgate Licks on the right, and receives Bear Mountain Creek from the right, Post Office Creek from the right, Lake Creek from the left, and passes under Mocus Point Pack Bridge, in that order.

From about convert|48|mi|km to convert|40|mi|km from the mouth, the Lochsa passes Weir Creek Hot Springs and receives Weir Creek and Ginger Creek, both from the right, Mocus Creek from the left, and Ashpile Creek from the right, then Indian Meadows Creek from the left, Indian Grave Creek from the right, passes the White Pine Access Area on the right, receives Eagle Mountain Creek from the left, and passes under Eagle Mountain Pack Bridge, in that order. Over the next convert|10|mi|km, the river receives Skookum Creek from the right, Stanley Creek from the left, and Castle Creek from the right, passes Green Flat Campground and Nine Mile Rest Area, both on the right, receives Bald Mountain Creek from the right, and Dutch Creek and Hard Creek from the left. Just below convert|30|mi|km from the mouth, the Lochsa receives Pass Creek from the right and over the next convert|10|mi|km receives No-See-Um Creek, Dipper Creek, and Sherman Creek, all from the right, then Lone Knob Creek from the left, passes Wilderness Gateway Campground on the left and Boulder Flat on the right, receives Boulder Creek from the left, passes the Lochsa Work Center on the right; receives Sardine Creek, Fish Creek, Bee Creek, Eel Creek, and Otter Slide Creek, all from the right, then passes Beaver Flat on the right and receives Big Stew Creek from the left and Snowshoe Creek from the right.

convert|0.9|mi|km from the mouth, receives Lottie Creek from the left, passes the town of Lowell on the left, passes under the Lowell Bridge, and meets the Selway River.

Downstream from Lowell, the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River flows west, meets the South and North Forks, and enters the Snake River at Lewiston on the Idaho—Washington border, convert|98|mi|km by river from Lowell. Below Lewiston, the Snake flows convert|140|mi|km to its confluence with the Columbia River just south of the Tri-Cities. Over this stretch, four dams in Washington block the Snake. They are the Lower Granite Dam, Little Goose Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, and Ice Harbor Dam, in that order.

History

Long before the arrival of European Americans in the 19th century, the Nez Perce people in Idaho used the trail along the Lochsa River to travel to the plains of Montana to hunt buffalo. Kootenai and Salish (Flatheads) from Montana used the river trail to reach salmon runs in the rivers and streams feeding into the Columbia basin.

During mid-September 1805, the explorers Lewis and Clark traveled westward along the Lolo Trail, descending into and out of the Lochsa Gorge, then above its north rim. They described the region near the modern-day ranger station at Powell as follows:

" ...the grass entirely eaten out by the horses, we proceeded on 2 miles & Encamped opposit a Small Island at the mouth of a branch on the right side of the river which is at this place 80 yards wide. Swift and Stoney, here we were compelled to kill a Colt for our men & Selves to eat for the want of meat & we named the South fork Colt killed Creek ... The Mountains which we passed to day much worst than yesterday the last excessively bad & thickly Strowed with falling timber & Pine Spruce fur Hackmatak & Tamerack, Steep and Stoney our men and horses much fatigued... " [cite book | last = DeVoto | first = Bernard | title = The Journals of Lewis and Clark | publisher = Houghton Mifflin Company | date = 1953 | location = New York | pages = 238–39 | isbn =0-395-85996-4 ]

They experienced significant early season snowfall and suffered near starvation before exiting the mountains onto the Weippe Prairie, where they first encountered the Nez Perce tribe. [cite web | last = Jackson | first = Jill | title = A Timeline of the Lewis and Clark Expedition | publisher = Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation | date = 2004 | url = http://www.lewisandclark.org/?p=exp_timeline&n=landcexp | accessdaymonth = July 30, | accessyear = 2008]

U.S. Route 12

U.S. Route 12 follows the Lochsa River along its north bank.cite web
title = Clearwater National Forest: Highway 12: A Long and Winding Road | publisher = U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service | date = 2004 | location = Washington, D.C. | url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/VisitorInfo/Assets/pdfs/hwy12_corridor.pdf | format = pdf | accessdaymonth = July 30, | accessyear = 2008] One of the last two-lane U.S. highways constructed, it was completed in the early 1960s, connecting Lewiston with Missoula over Lolo Pass. Two railroads, the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific, had originally planned to ascend the Lochsa; the Northern won the rights and even completed some grades in 1908, but abandoned the project in 1909. The highway along the river was not completed for another 50 years. [cite book | last = Conley | first = Cort | title = Idaho for the Curious | publisher = Backeddy Books | date = 1982 | location = Cambridge, Idaho | pages = 107 | isbn = 0-903566-3-0]

Wildlife

Common among the animals using the Lochsa River watershed are deer, elk, black bear on the hillsides and moose in meadows and wet places. Among the birds along the river are Canada Geese, swans, eagles, Osprey and Great Blue Herons. Wild turkeys are seen at lower elevations. More rare are mountain lions, Snow Geese, mountain goats, and Harlequin Ducks. Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead are among the fish living in the river.

Recreation

Kayakers and whitewater rafters run the Lochsa, generally between April and June. The "Lochsa River Floating Guide" lists more than 60 rapids between Powell and Lowell, most of which are rated Class III-IV (medium to difficult). Depending on the discharge rate, the level of difficulty can rise in places to Class VI (the limits of navigation) on the International Scale of River Difficulty. The ratings in the "Floating Guide" reflect the difficulty of the Lochsa's rapids when the water levels at the bridge at Lowell are between convert|5|ft|m and convert|8|ft|m.cite web | title = Lochsa River Floating Guide | publisher = Northwest Interpretive Association in cooperation with the Clearwater National Forest | date = 1994 | url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/VisitorInfo/Assets/pdfs/Lochsa_River_Guide.pdf | format = pdf | accessdaymonth = August 24, | accessyear = 2008 ] The gage at the bridge differs from the USGS gage. A warning to whitewater rafters posted at the USGS web site for its gage says: "This stage reading is from the USGS gaging station 0.7 miles upstream from Lowell bridge, and it may read between 2-3 feet higher than the stage reading on the staff gage at Lowell bridge. This [the USGS gage reading] is not the stage reference to float the Lochsa River." The USGS site advises rafters to check with the Lochsa Ranger District for readings from the bridge.

The "Floating Guide" describes the the Class VI rapids at Castle Creek as follows:

Probably the largest, most technical rapid on the river. A long, twisting rapid whose 1/2-mile length is not totally observable from the water at any one time. Large holes become large waves at high water, and everything pillows left off a huge block of bedrock at the bottom of the rapid. Considered un-runnable at high flows. Must scout. Cannot be seen from highway.

Commercial outfitters offer pre-arranged trips, and people with sufficient technical expertise run the rapids on their own. River access points with parking lots along Highway 12 are at the following sites and highway mile markers: Knife Edge, 107; Split Creek, 111; Fish Creek, 119; Nine Mile, 130, and White Pine, 138.

Other recreation in the watershed includes backcountry skiing, bicycling on part of the TransAmerica Trail or other roads and trails, fly fishing with daily limits or catch-and-release rules, hiking, swimming, camping, and picnicking.

See also

*List of rivers of Idaho

References

Further reading

[http://www.epa.gov/EPA-SPECIES/2002/November/Day-29/e29232.htm "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Klamath River and Columbia River Distinct Population Segments of Bull Trout"] . Washington D.C. ; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Office of Endangered Species, 2002

Hazelbaker, Kris 2004. [http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_p034/rmrs_p034_207_216.pdf "Caring for a wild and scenic river"] In: Shepperd, Wayne D.; Eskew, Lane G., compilers. 2004. "Silviculture in special places: Proceedings of the National Silviculture Workshop; September 8–11, 2003; Granby, CO." Proceedings RMRS-P-34. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 207–16.

Moore, W. R. "The Lochsa story - Land Ethics In The Bitterroot Mountains". Missoula, Mont.; Mountain Publishing Co., 1996. ISBN 0878423419

External links

* [http://www.bearpawexpeditions.com/ Bearpaw River Expeditions] - Custom Lochsa Raft Trips
* [http://epic.weather.com/epicPlayer.html?clip=5987&collection=epic3&nav=141&from=epic&cm_ven=epic&cm_ite=home_maincontent The Weather Channel] - Epic Adventures - Lochsa River, Idaho
* [http://www.lochsa.info/ Lochsa.info] - stream flows, weather, etc.
* [http://backcountrysecrets.com/pointDetails.aspx?pointID=93 Backcountry Secrets.com] - Lochsa River, Idaho
* [http://www.idahowhitewatertrail.com/trailmap.aspx Idaho Whitewater Trail Map] - official state tourism site
* [http://paddling.net/idaho/lochsa.html Paddling.net] - Lochsa River, Idaho
* [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=11&X=760&Y=6388&W=3&qs=%7cLowell%7cID%7c Terraserver.Microsoft.com] - USGS topo map - Lowell, Idaho
* [http://www.kayakidaho.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=27 Kayak Idaho.com] - photos - Idaho rivers
* [http://www.rowadventures.com/index.php?page=trips&TripID=25 ROW Adventures.com] - Lochsa River
* [http://www.rafting-adventures.com/lochsariver.htm Rafting Adventures.com] - Lochsa River
* [http://www.trailadventures.com/ Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures] - Lochsa River
* [http://www.visitidaho.org/thingstodo/attractions.aspx?attractionid=31285 Lochsa Historical Ranger Station Museum]