Yellowstone River
Yellowstone River | |
---|---|
United States of America | |
State | Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Confluence of North and South Forks |
• location | Absaroka Range, Wyoming |
• coordinates | 43°59′18″N 109°55′45″W / 43.98833°N 109.92917°W[1] |
Sidney, MT[3] | |
• average | 13,773 cu ft/s (390.0 m3/s)[3] |
• minimum | 3,108 cu ft/s (88.0 m3/s) |
• maximum | 159,000 cu ft/s (4,500 m3/s)[4] |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Powder River |
The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 692 miles (1,114 km) long, in the Western United States. Considered the principal tributary of upper Missouri, via its own tributaries it drains an area with headwaters across the mountains and high plains of southern Montana and northern Wyoming, and stretching east from the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park. It flows northeast to its confluence with the Missouri River on the North Dakota side of the border, about 25 miles (40 km) west of Williston.
Yellowstone watershed
The Yellowstone River watershed is a
The mainstem of the Yellowstone River is more than 700 miles (1,100 km) long. At the headwaters, elevations exceed 12,800 feet (3,900 m) above sea level and descends to 1,850 feet (560 m) at the confluence with the
Geography
The river rises in northwestern Wyoming in the
East of Billings, it is joined by the
In Montana, the river's waters have been used extensively for irrigation since the 1860s. In its upper reaches, within Yellowstone Park and the mountains of Montana, it is a popular destination for fly fishing. The Yellowstone is a Class I river from the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the North Dakota border for the purposes of stream access for recreational purposes.[7]
Water right claims
The division of water rights to the entire Yellowstone River Basin among Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, governed by a 1950 compact, was disputed in a 2010 lawsuit brought directly to the U.S. Supreme Court by Montana against Wyoming. Oral argument took place in January 2011. On May 2, 2011, the Court held 7-2 (by Justice Thomas, with Justice Scalia dissenting) that Montana had no valid claim that its water supply had been diminished since Wyoming was irrigating the same acreage as always, albeit by a more modern method that returned less runoff to go downstream to Montana.[8] (A subsequent 2011 Supreme Court case, in which Montana asserted ownership of Missouri Basin river bottoms, so as to collect decades of back rent from a hydropower company, is unrelated. On February 22, 2012, Montana lost that case too.)
History
The name is widely believed to have been derived from the Minnetaree Indian name Mi tse a-da-zi (Yellow Rock River) (Hidatsa: miʔciiʔriaashiish').[9] Common lore recounts that the name was inspired by the yellow-colored rocks along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, but the Minnetaree never lived along the upper stretches of the Yellowstone. Some scholars think that the river was instead named after yellow-colored sandstone bluffs on the lower Yellowstone.[10]
The
Independently,
Most of the natural features of the Yellowstone Valley not already named by Lewis and Clark were named by pioneer steamboat captain Grant Marsh.[11] Marsh was selected by the Army for an exploratory expedition in 1873 on his riverboat Key West. The team was commanded by Brevet Brig. Gen. George Alexander Forsyth. Marsh kept a detailed log during the journey. The names he bestowed were recorded by an expedition representative of the War Department and applied to official maps; they include the following:[11]
- Forsyth Butte, named in honor of Forsyth, commander of the expedition.
- Cut Nose Butte, Chimney Rock, and Diamond Island, for their resemblance to these objects.
- Seven Sisters Islands, in remembrance of Captain Marsh's seven sisters.
- Crittenden Island, for General T. L. Crittenden, who commanded the 17th Infantry, which was garrisoned at posts along the Missouri River.
- Mary Island, for the chambermaid on the Key West, wife of the steward, "Dutch Jake."
- Reno Island, for Major Marcus A. Reno, of the 7th Cavalry.
- Schindel Island, for Major M. Bryant, commanding the escort for the Key West.
- Edgerly Island, for Lieutenant W. S. Edgerly of the 7th Cavalry.
- Monroe Island, for Captain Marsh's brother, Monroe Marsh.
- DeRussy Rapids, for Isaac D. DeRussy, later lieutenant-colonel of the 14th Infantry.
- McCune Rapids (later misspelled "McKeon" on maps), for one of Marsh's longtime friends in St. Louis.
- Barr's Bluff, for another Marsh friend.
- Stanley's Point, for the colonel of the 22nd Infantry.
- Sheridan's Buttes, for Lt. Gen. Philip Sheridan.
The Yellowstone River had long been an important artery of transportation for
Native American anger at settler encroachment on their hunting grounds led to Red Cloud's War. The conflict was settled with the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868, by which the US granted the territory of the Black Hills and the Powder River Country to the Lakota people.[12] This region included the drainages of the Big Horn, Powder and Tongue rivers. But the discovery of gold in 1874 in the Black Hills, however, attracted thousands of miners who invaded the sacred grounds and competed for resources. New armed conflicts broke out with the Lakota Sioux.
The new competition and violence led to the
The US Army returned in force and finally achieved victory over the tribes, forcing them onto reservations. The Lakota and allies were forced from eastern Montana and Wyoming: some bands fled to Canada, while others suffered removal to distant reservations, primarily located in present-day South Dakota and Nebraska west of the Missouri River. Crow warriors had enlisted as scouts with the US Army during the war and the
Many of the early expeditions to the area that was later protected as
2011 oil spill
An ExxonMobil pipeline runs from Silver Tip, to Billings, Montana. On Friday, July 1, 2011, it ruptured about 10 miles (16 km) west of Billings at about 10:40 p.m.[14] The resulting spill leaked an estimated 1,500 barrels of oil, equivalent to 63,000 US gallons (240,000 L; 52,000 imp gal), into the Yellowstone River for 56 minutes before it was shut down.[14] As a precaution against a possible explosion, officials in Laurel, Montana evacuated about 140 people on Saturday just after midnight, allowing them to return at 4 a.m.[15] Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer stated that "The parties responsible will restore the Yellowstone River".[16]
2015 oil spill
According to the Bridger Pipeline LLC, an oil spill occurred near Glendive on January 17, 2015, at 10 a.m. In response, the pipeline company shut down the pipeline at 11 a.m. in effort to prevent further environmental hazards. The company stated that 300–1,200 oil barrels (equivalent to 12,600 to 50,400 US gallons) were spilled into the river. State officials estimated, on the other hand, up to 50,000 US gallons (190,000 L; 42,000 imp gal) of spilled oil.[17] Benzene, a carcinogen,[18] was found in ten to fifteen parts per billion.[19][20] An EPA official said that "anything above five parts per billion is considered a long-term risk."[20] Nearly 6,000 people were told not to use municipal water in Glendive due to the elevated levels of cancer-causing benzene found in the Yellowstone River, and in the tap water supplied.[21][22] Bottled water was provided to their residents.[23] On January 23, 2015, the city water treatment plant was declared decontaminated.[24] City officials declared tap water safe to consume.[25]
The Wyoming company from True Companies' Poplar pipeline system[23] involved in this incident has a history of nine oil spills in 2006–14 leaking an amount of 11,000 US gallons (42,000 L; 9,200 imp gal) of crude. Also, their sister company Belle Fourche Pipeline owned by Tad True and their family, recorded twenty-one incidents in the same period leaking 272,832 US gallons (1,032,780 L; 227,180 imp gal) of oil, both companies had federal fines levied against them and appear in governments records.[26][27] The oil cleanup on Yellowstone River was put on hold for one month or more on February 3, 2015 until the ice melts. Montana Department of Environmental Quality was monitoring an area spanning a 90-mile (140 km) stretch of the Yellowstone, from the spill site downstream to a bridge just across the North Dakota border.[28]
2016 river closure
On August 19, 2016 the
On September 1, 2016, the agency reopened two stretches of the river. The first stretch, from the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park to Carbella, Montana, was open to non-fishing recreation only to allow the fish population to recover. The second stretch, from Carbella, Montana to Laurel, Montana, was opened to all uses.[32]
Peak Yellowstone River temperatures exceeded 68 °F (20 °C) for 18 straight days from July 17 to August 4.[33] Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks notes that trout and whitefish prefer water temperatures close to 55 °F (13 °C).[34]
2021 river closure
On January 26, 2021, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed a 200-yard (180 m) section of the Yellowstone River approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Reed Point at the request of the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), after MDT inspectors discovered the bridge that carried Twin Bridges Road (former US-10) over the river was in danger of collapse. The 3-span truss bridge, built in 1931, had shown advanced deterioration of the structural members. Of particular concern, one of the bridge piers had lost about half of its support capacity due to bridge scour undermining the pier footings. MDT awarded a $2 million emergency demolition contract on March 11, 2021. By the end of April 2021, construction crews had safely dismantled the failing structure, and the river reopened on May 26, 2021.[35]
2022 river floods
On June 13, 2022, Yellowstone National Park officials announced all park entrances were closed to visitors, citing "record flooding events" and a forecast of more rain to come.[36] The historic Carbella Bridge was destroyed.[37]
2023 bridge failure
In June 2023, a
Climate patterns
Flooding occurs in the watershed due to
Severe droughts have occurred in the Yellowstone Watershed that have lasted several years. Droughts have occurred in the basin in 1929–42, 1948–62 and 1976–82. The 1977 drought affected most of the western United States and resulted in decreased streamflows in the watershed. The reduced flow resulted in increased dissolved solids concentrations in the basin. Water quality varies across the various rivers in the basin. In mountainous areas,
The exploitation of oil resources and infrastructure in the region has also produced contamination of the river, including by major oil spills.
Fishing
The Yellowstone River is considered to be one of the greatest
Yellowstone Lake to Yellowstone Falls | |
---|---|
Yellowstone River, Fishing Bridge, July 1959 |
The river inside Yellowstone National Park provides accessible flat water fishing and abundant Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The portion of the river through the Hayden Valley is closed all year long, but the rest is accessible and easily wadable. No floating is allowed. Numerous insect hatches occur following the opening of the river on July 1 providing anglers the opportunity to try numerous artificial flies including Pale Morning Duns, Green Drakes, Gray Drakes, Caddis and salmon-flies. |
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Black Canyon of the Yellowstone | |
Black Canyon of the Yellowstone near Gardiner, Montana |
The canyon reaches inside Yellowstone National Park are accessible only by hiking or horseback. The river here is usually quite swift, with sheer canyon walls in spots. Below Knowles Falls, about 4 miles (6.4 km) upstream from Gardiner, anglers will find browns and whitefish in addition to the rainbows and cutthroat trout. |
Gardiner to Yankee Jim Canyon | |
Just south of Yankee Jim Canyon |
This section of the Yellowstone holds a good population of medium-sized rainbow and cutthroat trout, with a few big browns as well. The first half of this section from Gardiner to the bridge at Corwin Springs is mostly fast water, with some class II and III white water. From Corwin Springs to Yankee Jim Canyon, the river flattens out substantially and gives the angler more time to cast to fish along the banks. |
Yankee Jim Canyon | |
Upper Yankee Jim Canyon |
Yankee Jim Canyon is the Yellowstone's best white water, with several major rapids. Steep canyon walls make it a difficult stretch to fish. Because of the potential danger in floating the Canyon, many commercial fishing guides do not float this stretch, though recreational floaters are common. |
Tom Miner Bridge to Emigrant | |
Yellowstone River near Emigrant |
From the Tom Miner Bridge (or the Carbella access just downstream) down to Point of Rocks, there is some excellent water, much fast pocket water with several nice pools. Once the river reaches the Point of Rocks, the gradient decreases substantially and the river turns into slower, longer pools. |
Emigrant to Mallard's Rest | |
Drift Boat Fly Fishing on the Yellowstone near Grey Owl |
Just downstream from Emigrant is Grey Owl, one of the best fishing access points on the river. From here down to Mallard's Rest there is a pleasant mix of big pools and large browns and rainbows. |
Mallard's Rest to Carter's Bridge | |
Armstrong Spring Creek near Mallard's Rest |
This section of river known as Gallatin Mountains to the west. Along this stretch numerous spring creeks flow into the river, many of which are blue ribbon trout streams in their own right, such as DePuy Spring Creek . Rainbows dominate this part of the river, but browns can be found here also.
|
Carter's Bridge to Highway 89 Bridge | |
Winter Ice Near Carter's Bridge, January 2008 |
Because the Yellowstone flows right through Livingston between these points, this is known as the "town stretch". Given the presence of the upstream spring creeks for spawning, this reach of fast water is ideal habitat for rainbows which make up most of the population here. The use of a drift boat is the best way to access this stretch, though there are some good access points for walking and wading as well. |
Highway 89 Bridge to Big Timber | |
This section starts about 5 miles (8.0 km) to the east of Livingston, just off Interstate 90, where Highway 89 turns north, toward White Sulphur Springs. This lower river, from here on down through Big Timber is similar to the water around Livingston, but the riffles and pools are farther apart so there is more unproductive water. The fish populations are not as high as in the upper river and water through town, but there are some very large rainbows and browns to be caught in this stretch. In late summer, wind gusting across hayfields blows a lot of grasshoppers in the river which creates explosive reactions from big fish. |
See also
- Angling in Yellowstone National Park
- Fishes of Yellowstone National Park
- Montana Stream Access Law
- List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem)
- List of rivers of Montana
- List of rivers of North Dakota
- List of rivers of Wyoming
- List of waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park
References
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Yellowstone River, USGS GNIS
- ^ "Flows of Largest U.S. Rivers -- Length, Discharge, and Drainage Area". U.S. Census. Archived from the original on 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ a b "Yellowstone River at Sidney, Montana". Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment. River Discharge Database. 1996-10-19. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "USGS Gage #06329500 on the Yellowstone River near Sydney, MT". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ^ a b [1] Archived 2017-01-26 at the Wayback Machine Yellowstone River Basin (Wyoming State Wildlife Action Plan Aquatic Basins - Yellowstone Basin, 2010).
- ^ a b [2] Archived 2017-02-22 at the Wayback Machine Zelt, Ronald B., Greg Boughton, Kirk A. Miller, Jon P. Mason, and Laura M. Gianakos, Environmental Setting of the Yellowstone River Basin, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming (Water-Resources Investigations Report 98.4269, 1999).
- ^ "Stream Access in Montana". mt.gov. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Hidatsa Lessons Vocab2". Hidatsa Language Program. Archived from the original on 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
- ^ a b James S. Macdonald Jr. "History of Yellowstone as a Place Name". Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ a b Hanson, Joseph Mills. The Conquest of the Missouri, pp. 165-6, Murry Hill Books, Inc., New York, Toronto, 1909.
- ISBN 0-553-11979-6.
- ^ M. John Lubetkin, Jay Cooke's Gamble: The Northern Pacific Railroad, the Sioux, and the Panic of 1873 (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006).
- ^ a b [3] Archived 2013-06-17 at the Wayback Machine October 30, 2012
- ^ Ruptured Pipeline Spills Oil Into Yellowstone River Archived 2015-10-10 at the Wayback Machine New York Times, July 2, 2011
- ^ Spill sends 40km oil slick into river, Herald Sun, July 3, 2011
- ^ "Cleanup after 'unfortunate incident' in Yellowstone." Archived 2017-06-29 at the Wayback Machine CBS News (Associated Press). January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "Carcinogen Benzene Found in Water Supply in Montana Town Following Weekend Oil Spill - National News - ABC News Radio". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- National Geographic. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ Japan Times(Associated Press). January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ Muskal, Michael (January 20, 2015) "Water supply off-limits in Montana town after Yellowstone River oil spill" Archived 2015-01-28 at the Wayback Machine Los Angeles Times
- ^ "Crews work to clear Yellowstone river of 40,000 gallon crude oil spill". theguardian.com. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ a b Summers, Jessica (20 January 2015). "Yellowstone River Oil Spill Threatens Drinking Water in Montana". bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "Glendive water treatment plant decontaminated | KPAX.com | Missoula, Montana". Archived from the original on 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
- ^ "Glendive’s water declared safe after oil spill" Archived 2016-11-21 at the Wayback Machine (January 23, 2015) Mojave Daily News
- ^ "Montana oil spill latest in pipeline company's string of incidents". The Guardian. 31 January 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "Big Montana Oil Spill Is Latest Involving Pipeline Company". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ MATTHEW BROWN (3 February 2015). "Oil cleanup on Yellowstone River on hold until ice melts". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ^ "Proliferative Kidney Disease". Merck Animal Health. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- ^ "Yellowstone River Fish Kill Fact Sheet". Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. August 19, 2016. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- ^ "Yellowstone River fish kill closes 183-mile stretch of river, but doesn't reach park, officials say". Newsday-Associated Press. August 20, 2016. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- ^ "Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: FWP opens two stretches of the Yellowstone River". fwp.mt.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
- ^ "USGS Current Conditions for USGS 06192500 Yellowstone River near Livingston, MT". nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
- ^ "Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: Yellowstone River Fish Kill Fact Sheet - Updated Sept. 22, 2016". fwp.mt.gov. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ Section of Yellowstone River reopens to boaters after bridge torn down, Billings Gazette, May 26, 2021
- ^ Elizabeth Wolfe (14 June 2022). "Unprecedented flooding conditions force Yellowstone National Park to close all entrances and leave locals trapped". CNN. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ Bergan, Joshua (17 June 2022). "UPDATED: Historic Yellowstone River Flooding Damages Yellowstone Park and Paradise Valley". Fly Fisherman. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
- ^ Brown, Matthew; Johnson, Gene (2023-06-24). "Freight train carrying hot asphalt, molten sulfur plunges into Yellowstone River as bridge fails". AP News. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Matthew Brown (24 August 2023). "Petroleum asphalt remains in Yellowstone River, even after cleanup from train derailment". local10.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Ross, John (1999). Trout Unlimited's Guide to America's Best 100 Trout Streams in. Guidford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. pp. 218–20, 232–35.
- ^ "Montana Blue and Red Ribbon streams" (PDF). mt.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ "Montana Fish and Wildlife Fishing Guide-Yellowstone River". mt.gov. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ISBN 0-87108-861-4.
Further reading
- Brooks, Charles E. (1984). Fishing Yellowstone Waters. Clinton, NJ: New Win Publishing Inc. ISBN 0-8329-0353-1.
- Hughes, Dave (1992). The Yellowstone River and its Angling. Portland, OR: Frank Amato Publications. ISBN 1-878175-23-8.
- Walinchus, Rod; Travis, Tom (1995). Fly Fishing The Yellowstone River. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing. ISBN 0-87108-861-4.
- Holt, John (1996). Montana Fly-Fishing Guide-East. Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-529-4.
- Mathews, Craig; Molinero, Clayton (1997). The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide-A authoritative guide to the waters of Yellowstone National Park. Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-55821-545-X.
- ISBN 978-1-56044-625-5.
- Graetz, Rick; Graetz, Susie (2002). Montana's Yellowstone River - From the Teton Wilderness to the Missouri. Helena, MT: Northern Rockies Publishing. ISBN 1-891152-16-5.
- Sullivan, Gordon (2008). Saving Homewaters: The Story of Montana's Streams and Rivers. Woodstock, VT: The Countryman Press. ISBN 978-0-88150-679-2.
External links
- Fish and Wildlife Service: Upper Missouri River and Yellowstone Archived 2004-02-08 at the Wayback Machine
- USGS Site: Lewis and Clark Expedition Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
- State of Montana: Yellowstone River Physical Features Inventory Archived 2004-02-08 at the Wayback Machine
- State of Montana: Lower Yellowstone Corridor Physical Features Inventory Archived 2004-02-08 at the Wayback Machine