South Fork Stanislaus River

The South Fork Stanislaus River is a major tributary of the Stanislaus River in Tuolumne County, California. The river flows for 48.5 miles (78.1 km)[2] through rugged alpine and foothill areas of the Sierra Nevada.

South Fork Stanislaus River
Map of the Stanislaus River watershed, showing the South Fork
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Physical characteristics
SourceSierra Nevada
 • locationStanislaus National Forest
 • coordinates38°13′29″N 119°49′05″W[1]
 • elevation8,642 ft (2,634 m)
MouthStanislaus River
 • location
New Melones Lake
 • coordinates
38°04′26″N 120°25′24″W[1]
 • elevation
1,050 ft (320 m)
Length48.5 mi (78.1 km)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationnear Long Barn[3]
 • average85.1 cu ft/s (2.41 m3/s)[4]
 • minimum0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
 • maximum12,900 cu ft/s (370 m3/s)

The river begins in Hay Meadow in the Emigrant Wilderness of the Stanislaus National Forest. It flows generally southwest, past Pinecrest, Cold Springs and Long Barn, then descends west through a canyon to the New Melones Lake reservoir where it meets the Stanislaus River.[5]

There are two dams on the South Fork: Strawberry Dam, which forms Pinecrest Lake, and Lyons Dam, impounding Lyons Reservoir, which provides municipal water supply to the Twain Harte area. Strawberry Dam is part of the Spring-Gap Stanislaus Hydroelectric Project, which uses water from the South Fork and Middle Forks of the Stanislaus River to generate power.[6]

See also

References
  1. "South Fork Stanislaus River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  2. "National Hydrography Dataset via National Map Viewer". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  3. "USGS Gage #11298000 on the South Fork Stanislaus River near Long Barn, CA" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1937–2013. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  4. "USGS Gage #11298000 on the South Fork Stanislaus River near Long Barn, CA" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1937–2013. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  5. USGS Topo Maps for United States (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  6. "Stanislaus-Spring Gap : P-2130". Hydropower Reform Coalition. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
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