North Fork
The North Fork Feather River begins in Feather River Meadows at the junction of Rice Creek and South Arm Rice Creek, 40°21′47″N 121°27′5″W / 40.36306°N 121.45139°W / 40.36306; -121.45139. The names and confluence locations of the streams in this area were changed by the Board on Geographic Names in 1927. USGS topographic maps, as of 1995, are mislabeled for South Arm, North Arm Rice Creek, Rice Creek and North Fork Feather River. Rice Creek, labeled North Arm Rice Creek on USGS topo maps, flows south from its source at Cold Boiling Lake, 40°27′24″N 121°29′4″W / 40.45667°N 121.48444°W / 40.45667; -121.48444, in Lassen Volcanic National Park, through Crumbaugh Lake, and south to join the South Arm Rice Creek, forming the North Fork Feather River.
The North Fork's length is about 102 miles (164 km), or about 112 miles (180 km) including Rice Creek. The total length of the Feather River from the source of Rice Creek to the Sacramento River is about 187 miles (301 km).
From its source in Feather River Meadows the North Fork flows east. A tributary emerges from Buzzard Springs and flows into the Stump Ranch Marsh Area, where it joins the North Fork, which then flows southeast to Lake Almanor, a reservoir created by Canyon Dam. Below Canyon Dam the North Fork flows generally southwest through the Sierra Nevada, receiving the East Branch North Fork Feather River near Belden.
The East Branch is one of the major tributaries of the Feather River system. It originates at 40°2′16″N 120°58′57″W / 40.03778°N 120.9825°W / 40.03778; -120.9825, at the confluence of Indian Creek and Spanish Creek. Indian Creek is another long and important tributary, flowing from its source at 40°18′34″N 120°41′36″W / 40.30944°N 120.69333°W / 40.30944; -120.69333, on the south slopes of Diamond Mountain, south and west, through Indian Valley and north of American Valley. Impounded at Antelope Dam, Indian Creek then joins Spanish Creek to form the East Branch North Fork Feather River. The longest tributary of Indian Creek is Last Chance Creek, which rises in eastern Plumas County at 40°0′47″N 120°12′10″W / 40.01306°N 120.20278°W / 40.01306; -120.20278, south of Honey Lake, and flows generally west, joining Indian Creek at the western end of Genesee Valley. From its source at the Indian and Spanish Creeks confluence, the East Branch North Fork flows west past Twain and joins the North Fork near Belden.
The East Branch's main stem length is about 18 miles (29 km). Indian Creek is about 52.5 miles (84.5 km) long, and Last Chance Creek is about 45 miles (72 km) long. The East Branch's most distant headwater is Last Chance Creek's source. The total length from the mouth of the East Branch to the source of Last Chance Creek is about 92 miles (148 km). The total length of the Feather River from the source of Last Chance Creek to the Sacramento River is about 219 miles (352 km).
The North Fork continues flowing south below the East Branch confluence. Bucks Creek, which drains Bucks Lake near Bucks Lake, California, joins from east. The North Fork flows southeast into Butte County, becoming the northern arm of Lake Oroville. Before Oroville Dam was built the mouth of the North Fork was located at 39°33′20″N 121°28′0″W / 39.55556°N 121.466667°W / 39.55556; -121.466667. After the North Fork's mouth was inundated by Lake Oroville the North Fork's mouth was changed to be at 39°43′27″N 121°28′19″W / 39.72417°N 121.47194°W / 39.72417; -121.47194, according to the USGS.
The North Fork Feather River drains 2,156 square miles (5,580 km2)—1,131 square miles (2,930 km2) for the North Fork itself and 1,025 square miles (2,650 km2) for East Branch North Fork. The average discharge for the two streams is about 1,930 cubic feet per second (55 m3/s) for the North Fork, and 1,000 cubic feet per second (28 m3/s) for the East Branch.
Read more about this topic: Feather River, Course
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