Nespelem River

The Nespelem River is a northern tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is completely contained within Okanogan County and the Colville Indian Reservation.

Nespelem River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CityNespelem
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates48°21′5″N 118°55′48″W[1]
 • elevation3,850 ft (1,170 m)[2]
MouthColumbia River
 • coordinates
48°7′40″N 119°2′34″W[1]
 • elevation
961 ft (293 m)[2]
Basin size224 sq mi (580 km2)[3]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftLittle Nespelem River

The name "Nespelem" is said to come from the Indian word nesilim, meaning "flat land".[4]

Course

The Nespelem River originates in eastern Okanogan County and flows south. It collects several minor tributaries including Stepstone Creek, North Star Creek, and Armstrong Creek, before passing by the town of Nespelem, Washington, the headquarters of the Colville Indian Reservation.

Below the town, the Nespelem River turns west. The Little Nespelem River joins just before the river empties into the Columbia River. This reach of the Columbia River is several miles below Grand Coulee Dam and many miles above Chief Joseph Dam. The impounded Columbia River behind Chief Joseph Dam, into which the Nespelem River flows, is called Rufus Woods Lake.

See also
  • List of rivers in Washington
  • Tributaries of the Columbia River

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nespelem River, USGS, GNIS
  2. Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
  3. Lake Rufus Woods Archived 2007-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, Intermountain Province Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
  4. Phillips, James W. (1971). Washington State Place Names. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-95158-3.



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