Skookumchuck River

The Skookumchuck River is a 45-mile (72 km) long[2] river located in southwest Washington, United States. It is a tributary of the Chehalis River and thence to the Pacific Ocean. The Skookumchuck Dam was built in 1970, creating the Skookumchuck Reservoir. The dam provides water supply for the 1400-megawatt Centralia Steam Electric Plant and supplements flows for fish resources. The river begins with several tributaries in the Snoqualmie National Forest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, and flows west past the town of Bucoda, Washington to its confluence with the Chehalis River near Centralia, Washington.

Skookumchuck River
Skookumchuck River in Bucoda, WA
Location of the mouth of the Skookumchuck River in Washington
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyLewis, Thurston
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates46°42′28″N 122°26′41″W[1]
Mouth 
 • coordinates
46°43′10″N 122°58′55″W[1]
Length45 mi (72 km)[2]
Basin size181 sq mi (470 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationriver mile 6.4 near Bucoda[4]
 • average1,972 cu ft/s (55.8 m3/s)[4]
 • minimum40 cu ft/s (1.1 m3/s)
 • maximum8,560 cu ft/s (242 m3/s)

The name Skookumchuck derives from Chinook Jargon: in this context, "rapids". The word skookum means "strong", and chuck means "water".[5]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Skookumchuck River
  2. "Skookumchuck River". The Columbia Gazetteer of North America. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  3. "Chehalis River Basin Nonpoint Action Plan - Skookumchuck River". Chehalis River Council Nonpoint Action Plan - Skookumchuck River. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  4. "Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005; Chehalis and Humptulips River Basins; 12026400 Skookumchuck River near Bucoda, WA" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  5. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.



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