White River (Green River tributary)

White River Rio Blanco
The White River in Uintah County, Utah
Map of the White River watershed
Location
Country	United States
State	Colorado, Utah
Cities	Meeker, Colorado, Rangely, Colorado, Bonanza, Utah, Ouray, Utah
Physical characteristics
Source	Confluence of North Fork and South Fork
• location	Rio Blanco County, Colorado
• coordinates	39°58′22″N 107°38′18″W / 39.97278°N 107.63833°W / 39.97278; -107.63833[1]
• elevation	6,932 ft (2,113 m)
Mouth	Green River
• location	Uintah County, Utah
• coordinates	40°03′44″N 109°40′45″W / 40.06222°N 109.67917°W / 40.06222; -109.67917[1]
• elevation	4,646 ft (1,416 m)
Length	195 mi (314 km)
Basin size	5,120 sq mi (13,300 km2)
Discharge
• location	Watson, Utah[2]
• average	689 cu ft/s (19.5 m3/s)[3]
• minimum	13 cu ft/s (0.37 m3/s)
• maximum	8,160 cu ft/s (231 m3/s)
Basin features
River system	Colorado River
Tributaries
• left	South Fork White River
• right	North Fork White River

White River is a river, approximately 195 miles (314 km) long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah and is a tributary of the Green River (which flows into the Colorado River).^[4][1]

Description

The river rises in two forks in northwestern Colorado in northeastern Garfield County in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in the White River National Forest. The North Fork rises in Wall Lake and flows northwest, then southwest. The South Fork rises ten miles south of the north, flows southwest, then northwest, past Spring Cave. The two forks join near Buford in eastern Rio Blanco County, forming the White. It flows west, then northwest, past Meeker (site of the White River Museum), and across the broad valley between the Danforth Hills on the north and the Roan Plateau on the south. Downstream from Meeker, it is joined by Piceance Creek and Yellow Creek. In western Rio Blanco County, it turns southwest, flows past Rangely, where it is joined by Douglas Creek, and into Uintah County, Utah, where it joins the Green 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Ouray.

The White River is navigable by small boats throughout most of its length. But in low water years, the water level may be too low for navigation for a period of several months. Flows vary from 400 cu ft/s (11 m³/s) in late summers of dry years to well over 3,000 cu ft/s (85 m³/s) in spring.

Dams and reservoirs

The river is dammed in two places, both in Colorado. Taylor Draw Dam^[5] creates Kenney Reservoir near Rangely, and the Johnnie Johnson Dam impounds Rio Blanco Lake near White River City.^[6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, White River has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.^[7]

See also

References

External links

This page was last edited on 13 February 2024, at 10:50