Tumalo Creek
Below Tumalo Falls
Tumalo Creek is located in Oregon
Tumalo Creek
Location of the mouth of Tumalo Creek in Oregon
EtymologyPerhaps from the Klamath word for wild plum[2]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyDeschutes
Physical characteristics
Sourceconfluence of Middle and North forks of Tumalo Creek
 • locationDeschutes National Forest near Mount Bachelor, Cascade Range
 • coordinates44°02′49″N 121°35′55″W / 44.04694°N 121.59861°W / 44.04694; -121.59861[1]
 • elevation5,597 ft (1,706 m)[3]
MouthDeschutes River
 • location
north of Bend, upstream of Tumalo State Park
 • coordinates
44°06′57″N 121°20′22″W / 44.11583°N 121.33944°W / 44.11583; -121.33944[1]
 • elevation
3,245 ft (989 m)[1]
Length20 mi (32 km)[4]
Basin size59 sq mi (150 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • average75 cu ft/s (2.1 m3/s)[6]
 • maximum250 cu ft/s (7.1 m3/s)

Tumalo Creek is a tributary, about 20 miles (32 km) long,[4] of the Deschutes River, located in Deschutes County in Central Oregon, United States. It rises in the Cascade Range at 44°02′49″N 121°35′55″W / 44.04706°N 121.598647°W / 44.04706; -121.598647 (Tumalo Creek source), where Middle Fork Tumalo Creek and North Fork Tumalo Creek meet, and forms several waterfalls, including the 97-foot (30 m) Tumalo Falls. Its mouth is on the Deschutes at 44°06′57″N 121°20′22″W / 44.1159506°N 121.3394783°W / 44.1159506; -121.3394783.[7]

It is home to several species of trout, including the Columbia River redband trout. It is the primary drinking water source for the city of Bend.[8] The lower reaches of the creek are often emptied for irrigation, drained by a tunnel flume at 44°05′45″N 121°21′35″W / 44.09589°N 121.35966°W / 44.09589; -121.35966 (Tumalo Creek tunnel flume) and Tumalo Canal at 44°05′45″N 121°21′35″W / 44.09591°N 121.35970°W / 44.09591; -121.35970 (Tumalo Canal source).

In 1883, the first known canal to be dug from the creek was created to divert water to farms.[9] The 1979 Bridge Creek Fire and related salvage logging increased erosion and damaged habitats in and near Tumalo Creek. Since 2003, a network of government agencies and volunteer groups have been working to restore fish and wildlife habitat along a 3-mile (5 km) stretch of the stream.[10][needs update]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tumalo Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  2. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 973. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  3. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. ^ a b Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 249. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.
  5. ^ United States Forest Service. "Tumalo Creek Bridge to Bridge Restoration Environmental Assessment" (PDF). University of Oregon. p. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  6. ^ "Tumalo Creek". Deschutes River Conservancy. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  7. ^ "Tumalo Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 28 November 1980. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  8. ^ Lindsey, Ethan (June 10, 2009). "Bend considers building a hydroelectric project on Tumalo Creek". OPB News. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved August 28, 2011.[dead link]
  9. ^ "About Us". Tumalo Irrigation District. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  10. ^ "Tumalo Creek Restoration Project". Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2012.

External links

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