North Fork John Day River

The North Fork John Day River is a 107-mile (172 km) tributary of the John Day River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins in Grant County about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Baker City near the crest of the Blue Mountains. It flows generally west to the community of Dale on U.S. Route 395, then southwest through the city of Monument to the unincorporated community of Kimberly, where it meets the main stem of the John Day River.

North Fork John Day River
The river flowing beside Highway 395 in Umatilla County
Location of the mouth of the North Fork John Day River in Oregon
EtymologyJohn Day, fur trapper
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyGrant County, Umatilla County
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBlue Mountains near Mount Ireland, Grant County, Oregon
 • coordinates44°51′48″N 118°14′13″W[1]
 • elevation7,466 ft (2,276 m)[2]
MouthJohn Day River
 • location
Kimberly, Grant County, Oregon
 • coordinates
44°45′22″N 119°38′19″W[1]
 • elevation
1,834 ft (559 m)[1]
Length107 mi (172 km)[3][4]
Basin size1,800 sq mi (4,700 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • locationMonument, Oregon, 15.3 miles (24.6 km) from mouth[6]
 • average1,297 cu ft/s (36.7 m3/s)[6]
 • minimum6 cu ft/s (0.17 m3/s)
 • maximum33,400 cu ft/s (950 m3/s)
TypeWild, Scenic, Recreational
DesignatedOctober 28, 1988

The upper reaches of the river flow through the North Fork John Day Wilderness in the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest and the Umatilla National Forest. From its headwaters to its confluence with Camas Creek, the river is part of the National Wild and Scenic River system. The upper 27.8 miles (44.7 km) is classified wild, the next 10.5 miles (16.9 km) scenic, and the next 15.8 miles (25.4 km) recreational, for a total of 54.1 miles (87.1 km).[7]

The North Fork John Day River is one of the most important in northeast Oregon for anadromous fish. Wildlife found near the river includes mule deer, elk, and black bears, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. Recreational uses include hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, camping, and whitewater rafting.[7]

See also

References
  1. "North Fork John Day River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  2. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. Length from mouth to Camas Creek. "Online Topographic Maps from the United States Geological Survey". TopoQuest. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  4. Length from Camas Creek to source. "North Fork John Day River, Oregon". Public Lands Information Center. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  5. Macy, Tom; James, Gary (2000). "North Fork John Day River Basin Anadromous Fish Enhancement Project" (pdf). Bonneville Power Administration. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  6. "Water-Data Report 2013: 14046000 North Fork John Day River at Monument, OR" (pdf). United States Geological Survey (USGS). 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  7. "John Day River (North Fork), Oregon". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
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