Living in the
Palouse River Watershed
HUC:
17060108
The Palouse River basin is located primarily in
Whitman County, Washington,
and its headwaters are in Latah
County,
Idaho. The Palouse River flows
along the border of Whitman, Adams, and
Franklin
Counties near its confluence with the Snake River. The Snake River flows into the Columbia River
that flows into the Pacific Ocean at
the Washington/Oregon state border. Palouse
Falls (198 foot cliff) occurs six river
miles upstream of the Palouse River’s
mouth. The section upstream of the South Fork Palouse River confluence
is locally referred to as the North Fork Palouse River that extends
roughly 54 river miles upstream from the South Fork Palouse River
confluence. Palouse River headwaters start within the
Hoodoo
Mountains in the St. Joe National Forest.
The Palouse River is approximately 144 miles long,
120 miles of which is within
Washington
State. Its watershed area
within Washington
is approximately 3281 square miles (2,099,832 acres). The North Fork
Palouse River basin area is approximately 495 square miles (316,799
acres) and contributes around 83% of the mean annual flow of the Palouse
River at Colfax (Ahmed, 2004). The South Fork Palouse
River basin area is approximately 344
square miles (219,943 acres) and joins the Palouse
River
at Colfax.
Streams which are part of the Mainstem Palouse River that lie within
the Palouse Conservation District boundaries lie within the Union Flat
Creek Sub watershed:
Thorn Creek
Dry Creek
If you live or work in the Mainstem Palouse River watershed, District
staff can help you protect water quality, promote fish & wildlife
habitat, and address concerns you may have on your property.
If you would like assistance with making improvements to streamside
habitat, your pastures, or with your livestock facilities, the District
may be able to help. PCD can provide technical assistance in the form of
engineering, site specific suggestions, mud and manure management
guidelines, and more.
Septic issues can be handled through the Whitman County Health
District. They can be reached at (509) 397-6280.
Please call Drew Hawley, PCD Conservation Resource Technician or Mary
Rosen, PCD Manager at 509-332-4101.
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