Ash Creek
Ash Creek in Independence
Ash Creek (Polk County, Oregon) is located in Oregon
Ash Creek (Polk County, Oregon)
Location of Ash Creek in Oregon
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyPolk
Physical characteristics
Sourceconfluence of Middle Fork Ash Creek and North Fork Ash Creek
 • locationnortheast of Monmouth
 • coordinates44°51′32″N 123°13′08″W / 44.85889°N 123.21889°W / 44.85889; -123.21889[1]
 • elevation176 ft (54 m)[2]
MouthWillamette River
 • location
Independence
 • coordinates
44°51′19″N 123°10′50″W / 44.85528°N 123.18056°W / 44.85528; -123.18056[1]
 • elevation
135 ft (41 m)[1]
Basin size36 sq mi (93 km2)[3]

Ash Creek is a short stream in Polk County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the merger of its north and middle forks near Monmouth, it flows generally east to meet the Willamette River at Independence. The creek passes under Oregon Route 51 just before entering the river. The creek's mouth is about 95 miles (153 km) upstream of the Willamette's confluence with the Columbia River.[4]

North Fork Ash Creek begins at the eastern edge of the Central Oregon Coast Range near Dallas at 44°54′35″N 123°21′44″W / 44.90972°N 123.36222°W / 44.90972; -123.36222 (North Fork Ash Creek)[5] and flows generally southeast to meet the Middle Fork.[4] Middle Fork Ash Creek begins at 44°53′26″N 123°17′37″W / 44.89056°N 123.29361°W / 44.89056; -123.29361 (Middle Fork Ash Creek)[6] near Mount Pisgah and flows generally east.[4] Both forks pass under Oregon Route 99W shortly before they merge to form the main stem.[4]

Ash Creek is joined by a third fork, South Fork Ash Creek, in Independence. The South Fork begins at 44°52′36″N 123°18′28″W / 44.87667°N 123.30778°W / 44.87667; -123.30778 (South Fork Ash Creek)[7] slightly south of the Middle Fork and flows generally east to meet the main stem at 44°51′13″N 123°11′36″W / 44.85361°N 123.19333°W / 44.85361; -123.19333 (South Fork Ash Creek)[7] The South Fork passes under Route 99W south of Monmouth and under Route 51 in Independence.[4]

None of the three forks has a named tributary.[4] Before alterations by settlers in the 19th century, the basin was a "boggy, 'braided' marsh with many small creeks spilling into Ash Creek" and the river. European-Americans drained and leveled wetlands and riparian zones for farming, logging, housing, and urban development.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ash Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. 1 2 "Ash Creek Watershed". Luckiamute Watershed Council. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 7, 2016 – via Acme Mapper. The map includes mile markers along the Willamette.
  5. ↑ "North Fork Ash Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980.
  6. ↑ "Middle Fork Ash Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980.
  7. 1 2 "South Fork Ash Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980.
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