Middle Fork Clearwater River

The Middle Fork Clearwater River is a short, but high volume river in Idaho County, Idaho, United States and is the major source of the Clearwater River, a tributary of the Snake River.

Middle Fork Clearwater River
Map of the Clearwater River watershed, including the Middle Fork
Location
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Physical characteristics
Source	Confluence of Lochsa River and Selway River
• location	Lowell, Idaho
• coordinates	46°08′25″N 115°35′58″W[1]
Mouth	Clearwater River
• location	Kooskia, Idaho
• coordinates	46°08′44″N 115°58′57″W[1]
• elevation	1,224 ft (373 m)
Length	23 mi (37 km)[2]
Basin size	3,420 sq mi (8,900 km2)[3]
Discharge
• location	Lowell[n 1]
• average	6,532 cu ft/s (185.0 m3/s)[n 2]
• minimum	260 cu ft/s (7.4 m3/s)
• maximum	77,200 cu ft/s (2,190 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Selway River, Clear Creek
• right	Lochsa River, Pete King Creek, Maggie Creek
National Wild and Scenic River
Type	Recreational
Designated	October 2, 1968

Description

The Middle Fork flows west for 23 miles (37 km)^[2] from the confluence of the Selway River and Lochsa River at Lowell, to the town of Kooskia where it joins with the South Fork Clearwater River to create the Clearwater River. The Middle Fork's entire length is within Idaho County, although a small portion of its watershed extends into Clearwater County.

The Middle Fork, along with the Selway and Lochsa Rivers, was among the original eight rivers designated as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It is a major migration route for Pacific chinook salmon that spawn in the Selway River.^[8] Although the Middle Fork flows through a tight canyon, it is characterized by gentle Class I and II rapids suitable for floating, especially in late summer after the peak snow melt has decreased.^[9]

U.S. Route 12 follows the entire length of the river.^[2]

See also

• Rivers portal
• Idaho portal

• List of rivers of Idaho

Notes

1. There is no USGS stream gage in the Middle Fork proper, so the figure is the combination of gage #13336500 on the Selway River^[4] and gage #13337000 on the Lochsa River^[5]
2. There is no USGS stream gage in the Middle Fork proper, so the figure is the combination of gage #13336500 on the Selway River^[6] and gage #13337000 on the Lochsa River^[7]