View source for Feather River

{{About|the river in California}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
 | name                 = Feather River
 | native_name          = 
 | native_name_lang     = 
 | name_other           = Río de las Plumas
 | name_etymology       = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
 | image                = Feather River upstream from Bear River May 1962 (26252160824).jpg
 | image_size           = 280
 | image_caption        = The Feather River near its confluence with the [[Bear River (Feather River tributary)|Bear River]]
 | map                  = Feathermap-01.png
 | map_size             = 280
 | map_caption          = Map of the Feather River watershed. The artificially connected [[Sutter Basin]] and [[Butte Creek (Butte County, California)|Butte Creek]] drainage basins are indicated in yellow.
 | pushpin_map          = 
 | pushpin_map_size     = 280
 | pushpin_map_caption  = 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
 | subdivision_type1    = Country
 | subdivision_name1    = [[United States]]
 | subdivision_type2    = State
 | subdivision_name2    = [[California]]
 | subdivision_type3    = Region
 | subdivision_name3    = [[Butte County, California|Butte County]], [[Yuba County, California|Yuba County]], [[Sutter County, California|Sutter County]]
 | subdivision_type4    = 
 | subdivision_name4    = 
 | subdivision_type5    = Cities
 | subdivision_name5    = [[Oroville, California|Oroville]], [[Yuba City, California|Yuba City]], [[Marysville, California|Marysville]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
 | length               = {{convert|73|mi|km|abbr=on}}, North-south<ref name=NHD/> 
 | width_min            = 
 | width_avg            = 
 | width_max            = 
 | depth_min            = 
 | depth_avg            = 
 | depth_max            = 
 | discharge1_location  = [[Nicolaus, California|Nicolaus]]<ref name="USGSdischarge">{{cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/annual/?referred_module=sw&amp;site_no=11425000&amp;por_11425000_2=2209699,00060,2,1942,1983&amp;year_type=W&amp;format=html_table&amp;date_format=YYYY-MM-DD&amp;rdb_compression=file&amp;submitted_form=parameter_selection_list|title=USGS Gage #11425000 on the Feather River near Nicolaus |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|work=National Water Information System |date=1944–1983|access-date=2010-09-08}}</ref>
 | discharge1_min       = {{convert|222|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
 | discharge1_avg       = {{convert|8321|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="USGSdischarge"/>
 | discharge1_max       = {{convert|357000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
 | source1              = [[North Fork Feather River]]
 | source1_location     = Confluence of Rice Creek and South Arm Rice Creek, [[Plumas County, California|Plumas County]]
 | source1_coordinates  = {{coord|40|21|47|N|121|27|05|W|display=inline}}<ref>{{cite gnis|id=264163|name=North Fork Feather River|entrydate=1981-01-19|access-date=2010-10-23}}</ref>
 | source1_elevation    = {{convert|5436|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite gnis|id=1652882|name=Rice Creek|entrydate=1990-08-01|access-date=2010-10-23}}</ref>
 | source1_length       = {{convert|111|mi|abbr=on}}
 | source2              = [[Middle Fork Feather River]] 
 | source2_location     = Near [[Beckwourth, California|Beckwourth]], [[Sierra Valley]], [[Plumas County, California|Plumas County]]
 | source2_coordinates  = {{coord|39|48|49|N|120|22|46|W|display=inline}}<ref>{{cite gnis|id=263528|name=Middle Fork Feather River|entrydate=1981-01-19|access-date=2010-10-23}}</ref>
| source2_elevation     = {{convert|4872|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite gnis|id=266163|name=Sierra Valley Channels|entrydate=1981-01-19|access-date=2010-10-23}}</ref>
 | source2_length       = {{convert|129|mi|abbr=on}}
 | source_confluence    = [[Lake Oroville]]
 | source_confluence_location    = Upstream of [[Oroville Dam]]
| source_confluence_coordinates  = {{coord|39|32|14|N|121|29|00|W|display=inline}}<ref name="OrovilleGNIS"/>
| source_confluence_elevation    = {{convert|902|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="OrovilleGNIS">{{cite gnis|id=264404|name=Lake Oroville|entrydate=1981-01-19|access-date=2010-10-23}}</ref>
 | mouth                = [[Sacramento River]]
 | mouth_location       = [[Verona, California|Verona]]
 | mouth_coordinates    = {{coord|38|47|08|N|121|37|17|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="FeatherGNIS"/>
 | mouth_elevation      = {{convert|26|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="FeatherGNIS">{{cite gnis|id=223423|name=Feather River|entrydate=1981-01-19|access-date=2010-10-23}}</ref>
 | progression          = 
 | river_system         = [[Sacramento River]] Basin
 | basin_size           = {{convert|6197|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name=NHD/><ref name=USGS>{{cite web|title=Boundary Descriptions and Names of Regions, Subregions, Accounting Units and Cataloging Units |url=https://water.usgs.gov/GIS/huc_name.html |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=2010-08-22}}</ref>
 | tributaries_left     = [[Yuba River]], [[Bear River (Feather River)|Bear River]]
 | tributaries_right    = [[Sutter Basin|Sutter Bypass]]
 | custom_label         = 
 | custom_data          = 
 | extra                = {{Designation list
 | embed                = yes
 | designation1         = nwsr
 | designation1_type    = Wild, Scenic, Recreational
 | designation1_date    = October 2, 1968
 | designation1_number  = 
}}
}}

The '''Feather River''' is the principal tributary of the [[Sacramento River]], in the [[Sacramento Valley]] of [[Northern California]]. The river's [[main stem]] is about {{convert|73|mi|km}} long.<ref name=NHD/> Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is just over {{convert|210|mi|km}}.<ref name=NHD/> The main stem Feather River begins in [[Lake Oroville]], where its four long tributary forks join—the South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork, and West Branch Feather Rivers. These and other tributaries drain part of the northern [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]], and the extreme southern [[Cascade Range|Cascades]], as well as a small portion of the [[Sacramento Valley]]. The total [[drainage basin]] is about {{convert|6200|sqmi|km2}}, with approximately {{convert|3604|mi2|km2}} above [[Lake Oroville]].<ref name=NHD/><ref name=pincetl>{{cite book |last= Pincetl |first= Stephanine S. |title= Transforming California: A Political History of Land Use and Development |year= 2003 |publisher= JHU Press |isbn= 978-0-8018-7312-6 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bu7gSKsb0W4C&pg=PA171 |page= 171}}</ref>

The Feather River and its forks were a center of gold mining during the 19th century. Since the 1960s, the river has provided water to central and southern California, as the main source of water for the [[California State Water Project]]. Its water is also used for [[hydroelectricity]] generation. The average annual flow of the Feather River is more than {{convert|7|e6acre.ft|km3}}.<ref name="Central Valley unimpaired flows">{{cite web|url=https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/bay_delta/bay_delta_plan/water_quality_control_planning/docs/sjrf_spprtinfo/dwr_2007a.pdf|title=California Central Valley Unimpaired Flow Data|date=May 2007|publisher=California Department of Water Resources|access-date=2017-09-24}}</ref>

The Feather is unique in that two of its tributaries, the East Branch and Middle Fork, originate east of the Sierra Nevada in the [[Diamond Mountains (California)|Diamond Mountains]] and breach the crest of the Sierra as they flow west.<ref name=ufrw>{{cite web |last=George |first=Holly |author2=David Lile |author3=Cheree Childers |author4=Cindy Noble |author5=Andrea Oilar |author6=Katherine Haworth |author7=Kristen Schmidt |author8=Gabe Miller |title=Upper Feather River Watershed (UFRW) Irrigation Discharge Management Program |publisher=University of California |url=http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/1820/36228.pdf |access-date=4 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612162819/http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/1820/36228.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2010 }}</ref>

==Course==
The river rises in four main forks in the Sierra Nevada which unite as arms of the Lake Oroville reservoir in the foothills {{convert|5|mi|km}} northeast of [[Oroville, California|Oroville]] in eastern [[Butte County, California|Butte County]]. In terms of drainage area, the largest is the North Fork, which drains about 60% of the entire upper Feather River watershed. The Middle Fork is the second largest, draining about 32% of the upper basin. The South Fork and the West Branch are much smaller, each draining less than 5% of the upper basin.<ref name=ufrw/> The main stem Feather River begins at Oroville Dam, the outlet of Lake Oroville. From there the river flows generally south across the [[Sacramento Valley]], east of the [[Sutter Buttes]], past Oroville and [[Yuba City, California|Yuba City]]–[[Marysville, California|Marysville]]. The Feather receives the [[Yuba River]] from the east at Yuba City and the [[Bear River (Feather River)|Bear River]] from the east {{convert|15|mi|km}} south of Yuba City. It empties into the Sacramento River from the north, about {{convert|20|mi|km}} northwest of Sacramento.<ref name=topo>[[USGS]] [[topographic map]]s</ref>

===North Fork===
[[Image:BuzzardSprings.jpg|right|thumb|Buzzard Springs, partial source of the North Fork Feather River, near Rice Creek and with [[Lassen Peak]] in the background]]
The [[North Fork Feather River]] begins in Feather River Meadows at the junction of Rice Creek and South Arm Rice Creek, {{coord|40|21|47|N|121|27|5|W|display=inline}}. The names and confluence locations of the streams in this area were changed by the Board on Geographic Names in 1927.<ref name=gnis-ricecreek>{{GNIS|1652882|Rice Creek}}</ref> USGS [[topographic map]]s, as of 1995, are mislabeled for South Arm, North Arm Rice Creek, Rice Creek and North Fork Feather River.<ref name=gnis-nf>{{GNIS|264163|North Fork Feather River}}</ref> Rice Creek, labeled North Arm Rice Creek on USGS topo maps, flows south from its source at Cold Boiling Lake, {{coord|40|27|24|N|121|29|4|W|display=inline}}, in [[Lassen Volcanic National Park]], through Crumbaugh Lake, and south to join the South Arm Rice Creek, forming the North Fork Feather River.<ref name=gnis-ricecreek/>

The North Fork's length is about {{convert|100|mi|km}},<ref name=NHD/> or about {{convert|111|mi|km}} including Rice Creek.<ref name=NHD/> The total length of the Feather River from the source of Rice Creek to the Sacramento River is about {{convert|184|mi|km}}.<ref name=NHD/>

From its source in Feather River Meadows the North Fork flows east. A tributary emerges from Buzzard Springs and flows into the Stump Ranch Marsh Area, where it joins the North Fork, which then flows southeast to [[Lake Almanor]], a reservoir created by Canyon Dam. Below Canyon Dam the North Fork flows generally southwest through the Sierra Nevada, receiving the East Branch North Fork Feather River near [[Belden, California|Belden]].<ref name=topo/>

The North Fork continues flowing south below the East Branch confluence. Bucks Creek, which drains Bucks Lake near [[Bucks Lake, California]], joins from east. The North Fork flows southeast into Butte County, becoming the northern arm of Lake Oroville.<ref name=topo/> Before Oroville Dam was built the mouth of the North Fork was located at {{coord|39|33|20|N|121|28|0|W|display=inline}}. After the North Fork's mouth was inundated by Lake Oroville the North Fork's mouth was changed to be at {{coord|39|43|27|N|121|28|19|W|display=inline}}, according to the USGS.<ref name="gnis-nf"/>

The North Fork Feather River drains {{convert|2156|sqmi|km2}}—{{convert|1131|sqmi|km2}} for the North Fork itself and {{convert|1025|sqmi|km2}} for East Branch North Fork. The average discharge for the two streams is about {{convert|1930|cuft/s|m3/s}} for the North Fork, and {{convert|1000|cuft/s|m3/s}} for the East Branch.<ref name=wills>{{cite web |last= Wills |first= Leah |title= Upper Feather River Integrated Regional Water Management Plan |publisher= Plumas County |url= http://water.lgc.org/water-workshops/upper-sacramento-valley/Upper_Feather_Wills.pdf |access-date= 4 August 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110902001424/http://water.lgc.org/water-workshops/upper-sacramento-valley/Upper_Feather_Wills.pdf |archive-date= 2 September 2011 }}</ref>

====East Branch====
The East Branch is one of the major tributaries of the Feather River system. It originates at {{coord|40|2|16|N|120|58|57|W|display=inline}}, at the confluence of [[Indian Creek (Plumas County, California)|Indian Creek]] and [[Spanish Creek (Plumas County, California)|Spanish Creek]].<ref name=gnis-eastbranch>{{GNIS|266674|East Branch North Fork Feather River}}</ref> Indian Creek is another long and important tributary, flowing from its source at {{coord|40|18|34|N|120|41|36|W|display=inline}}, on the south slopes of Diamond Mountain, south and west, through Indian Valley and north of American Valley. Impounded at [[Antelope Dam (California)|Antelope Dam]], Indian Creek then joins Spanish Creek to form the East Branch North Fork Feather River.<ref name=gnis-indiancreek>{{GNIS|261733|Indian Creek}}</ref> The longest tributary of Indian Creek is Last Chance Creek, which rises in eastern Plumas County at {{coord|40|0|47|N|120|12|10|W|display=inline}},<ref>{{GNIS|262331|Last Chance Creek}}</ref> south of [[Honey Lake]], and flows generally west, joining Indian Creek at the western end of Genesee Valley.<ref>{{GNIS|224111|Genesee Valley}}</ref> From its source at the Indian and Spanish Creeks confluence, the East Branch North Fork flows west past [[Twain, California|Twain]] and joins the North Fork near Belden.<ref name=gentrymap>[http://www.gentryoffroad.com/php/maps/california/nationalforestmaps/plumasnationalforest/plumasblank.jpg Plumas National Forest Map], USDA Forest Service</ref>

The East Branch's main stem length is about {{convert|18|mi|km}}. Indian Creek is about {{convert|52.5|mi|km}} long, and Last Chance Creek is about {{convert|45|mi|km}} long. The East Branch's most distant headwater is Last Chance Creek's source. The total length from the mouth of the East Branch to the source of Last Chance Creek is about {{convert|89|mi|km}}.<ref name=NHD/> The total length of the Feather River from the source of Last Chance Creek to the Sacramento River is about {{convert|215|mi|km}}.<ref name=NHD/>

===Middle Fork===
[[File:Frazier Creek Falls - Plumas National Forest - California.jpg|thumb|Frazier Creek Falls in [[Plumas National Forest]] is part of the Middle Fork watershed]]
The [[Middle Fork Feather River]] begins at {{coord|39|48|49|N|120|22|46|W|display=inline}}, in southeastern Plumas County about {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} south of [[Beckwourth, California|Beckwourth]], at the north end of the [[Sierra Valley]].<ref name=gnis-mf>{{GNIS|263528|Middle Fork Feather River}}</ref> It is formed by the joining of a number of tributaries that merge in an [[inverted river delta]] wetland with a complex network of irrigation ditches and drains called the Sierra Valley Channels.<ref>{{GNIS|266163|Sierra Valley Channels}}</ref> A number of creeks merge in the Sierra Valley, the longest of which is Little Last Chance Creek, which originates at {{coord|40|1|9|N|120|13|15|W|display=inline}} and flows south through Frenchman Lake and Last Chance Valley to the Sierra Valley, where it divides into two [[distributary]] channels.<ref>{{GNIS|262656|Little Last Chance Creek}}</ref> Other tributaries that join to form the Middle Fork in the Sierra Valley include Carman Creek, Fletcher Creek, Turner Creek, Berry Creek, Hamlin Creek, Sierraville Creek, and Smithneck Creek.<ref name=topo/><ref name=gentrymap/>

Flowing west through the mountains from its source in the Sierra Valley the Middle Fork is joined by Big Grizzly Creek, which drains [[Lake Davis]] to the north. Then the river flows through [[Portola, California|Portola]] and Delleker in the Humbug Valley. Sulphur Creek joins in the Mohawk Valley at [[Clio, California|Clio]]. Continuing west, the Middle Fork passes between [[Graeagle, California|Graeagle]] and [[Blairsden, California|Blairsden]] and further downstream south of [[Sloat, California|Sloat]] in Long Valley. At Sloat, Long Valley Creek and Polar Creek enters the Feather. The Feather then enters a long and deep gorge. It is joined by numerous small tributaries. The [[Pacific Crest Trail]] crosses near Onion Valley Creek. The Middle Fork turns to flow southwest and south, through Bald Rock Canyon and the [[Feather Canyon|Feather River Canyon]] and on into the middle arm of Lake Oroville.<ref name=topo/><ref name=gentrymap/>

The Middle Fork's main stem length is about {{convert|95|mi|km}},<ref name=NHD/> or about {{convert|129|mi|km}} including Little Last Chance Creek.<ref name=NHD/> The total length of the Feather River from the source of Little Last Chance Creek to the Sacramento River is about {{convert|202|mi|km}}.<ref name=NHD/>

===South Fork===
The [[South Fork Feather River]] originates in southern Plumas County near the Plumas-Sierra county line, at {{coord|39|46|48|N|120|52|26|W|display=inline}}.<ref name=gnis-sf>{{GNIS|267458|South Fork Feather River}}</ref> It heads on the southwest slope of Pilot Peak, just north of Gibsonville Ridge and Bunker Hill Ridge. It flows west and southwest to [[Little Grass Valley Reservoir]], an impoundment created by [[Little Grass Valley Dam]]. Below the dam the South Fork flows southwest between Mooreville Ridge and Lumpkin Ridge and enters Butte County. Just before entering Lake Oroville the Ponderosa Diversion Dam impounds the South Fork in the Ponderosa Reservoir. Below the dam the river becomes the south arm of Lake Oroville.<ref name=topo/><ref name=gentrymap/> The mouth of the South Fork is considered to be where the river empties into Ponderosa Reservoir, {{coord|39|32|55|N|121|16|39|W|display=inline}}. The mouth was formerly located farther west at {{coord|39|33|5|N|121|25|20|W|display=inline}}, until it was inundated by Lake Oroville.<ref name=gnis-sf/> The total stream distance from the head of the South Fork to the juncture with the Middle Fork in Lake Oroville is {{convert|44.5|mi}}.<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-03-29 }}, accessed March 10, 2011</ref>

===West Branch===
The {{convert|46.4|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}}<ref name=NHD/> [[West Branch Feather River]], sometimes called the West Fork Feather River, has a drainage area that is small but slightly larger than that of the South Fork. It originates in Butte County at {{coord|40|4|40|N|121|25|24|W|display=inline}}, in [[Lassen National Forest]]. It flows southwest through Snag Lake and by Coon Hollow, after which it is joined by Philbrook Creek, which drains Philbook Reservoir to the east. From there the West Branch flows more directly south and leaves Lassen National Forest. It is joined by Fish Creek and Last Chance Creek (there are several streams named Last Chance Creek in the Feather River watershed). Downstream from Last Chance Creek a diversion dam draws off some of the West Branch's water. The diverted water flows into Hendricks Canal, a {{convert|8.66|mi|km|adj=on}} long conduit composed of ditch, flume, and tunnel sections, with a capacity of {{convert|125|cuft/s|m3/s}}. Along with other facilities, such as Philbrook Reservoir, Hendricks Canal is part of the Toadtown development, which conveys water through the several canals and powerhouses. The water ultimately empties into Butte Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River.<ref>{{cite web |title= Butte Creek Watershed Existing Conditions Report, Chapter 4: Water Supply and Service Areas of Water Suppliers |publisher= Butte Creek Watershed Conservancy |url=http://buttecreekwatershed.org/Watershed/ECR_04_Water_Supply.pdf |access-date= 4 August 2010}}</ref> Another diversion dam on the West Branch Feather River near [[Magalia, California|Magalia]], called the Magalia 73 Dam, conveys water into the Upper Miocene Canal, which runs to Kunkle Reservoir and the Lime Saddle Powerhouse on Lake Oroville. From the powerhouse water is carried by the Middle Miocene Canal to the Coal Canyon Powerhouse and on into the [[Oroville–Thermalito Complex]]. The Miocene Canal and Lime Saddle Powerhouse are part of the DeSabla Regional Bundle of hydroelectric facilities operated by the [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Application for Authorization to Divest Its Hydroelectric Generating Facilities and Related Assets, Section 4: Hydrology & Water Quality |publisher= Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy |url= http://www.battle-creek.net/docs/lnf/4.03-Hydrology.pdf |access-date= 4 August 2010 |archive-date= 23 July 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110723023248/http://www.battle-creek.net/docs/lnf/4.03-Hydrology.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The West Branch Feather River flows by [[Stirling City, California|Stirling City]] and is joined by Big Kimshew Creek and the Little West Fork West Branch Feather River.<ref>{{GNIS|262748|Little West Fork West Branch Feather River}}</ref> Concow Creek, flowing southwest from Concow Reservoir, joins just before the West Branch empties into the northwest arm of Oroville Lake, near [[Paradise, California|Paradise]].<ref name=topo/><ref name=gentrymap/>

==Drainage basin==
[[File:Yuba City and Feather River aerial.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of the region of the confluence of the Feather and Yuba rivers at [[Marysville, California|Marysville]] and [[Yuba City, California|Yuba City]]]]

The [[United States Forest Service]] manages over 80% of the Feather River's upper watershed, in the mountains above Lake Oroville. The [[Alluvium|alluvial valleys]] in this area are mostly privately owned and used for livestock grazing and hay production.<ref name=ufrw/> In terms of drainage area, the North Fork Feather River is the largest, accounting for about 60% of the total basin above Lake Oroville. The Middle Fork drains about 32% of the upper basin. Other forks and tributaries drain much smaller areas—the West Fork accounts for about 5%, and the South Fork about 3%.<ref name=ufrw/>

There are several important valleys in the otherwise mountainous upper basin. The [[Sierra Valley]] comprises an area of about {{convert|590|sqmi|km2}}<ref>[https://www.sierravalleygmd.org/files/932319d6d/Sierra+Valley+Groundwater+Sustainability+Plan+Concept+Document+-+6.1.2020.pdf Sustainability Plan Concept Document] sierravalleygmd.org</ref> is located where a number of tributaries come together to form the Middle Fork. The valley's elevation is nearly {{convert|5000|ft|m}}. It is known as the largest high-alpine valley in the continental United States. It also lies along the [[Pacific Flyway]], making it an important seasonal home to migrating birds. Settlements in the valley include [[Loyalton, California|Loyalton]], [[Sierraville, California|Sierraville]], and [[Beckwourth, California|Beckwourth]], with [[Portola, California|Portola]] just west of Sierra Valley.<ref name=ufrw/><ref name=gentrymap/>

The American Valley is located in the middle of the upper Feather basin. Spanish Creek and Greenhorn Creek join in the valley, and Spanish Creek flows north to join Indian Creek, forming the East Branch North Fork Feather River. American Valley is about {{convert|3410|ft|m}} in elevation and supports a population of about 6,500. The largest community is [[Quincy, California|Quincy]]. Historically, American Valley was a floodplain, but settlers drained the [[wet meadow]]s to create pasture for cattle and fields for hay production. Today the stream channels are deeply incised and floods rare. These alternations affected the valley's ecology. [[North American beaver|Beavers]], which were once prevalent, were nearly eliminated. This in turn had a large effect on the valley's hydrology.<ref name=ufrw/><ref name=gentrymap/>

Indian Valley is the third important alluvial valley of the upper basin. It is located along lower Indian Creek, near its confluence with Lights Creek. By the end of the 19th century Indian Valley was considered the most important valley of Plumas County and its swampy land was developed into a prosperous agricultural landscape. Communities in Indian Valley include [[Greenville, California|Greenville]] and [[Taylorsville, California|Taylorsville]].<ref name=ufrw/><ref name=gentrymap/>

Two large [[Endorheic basin|endorheic]] lakes, [[Eagle Lake (Lassen County)|Eagle Lake]] and [[Honey Lake]], lie north of the upper Feather River basin, across the Diamond Mountains.<ref name=topo/>

==History==
Historically, the [[Maidu]] were the main [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] inhabitants of the upper Feather River basin's American, Indian, and Sierra Valleys. Maidu villages were located in the Big Meadows area, now inundated by Lake Almanor, and in American Valley where [[Quincy, California|Quincy]] is now located. The Maidu migrated to the Sierra Valley in the spring and summer, but did not stay during the harsh winters. The [[Washoe people|Washoe]] hunted in the upper Feather River basin, especially in Long Valley, Sierra Valley, and Mohawk Valley. There is evidence of [[Northern Paiute|Paiute]] and Washoe settlements in the Long Valley area.<ref name=ufrw/>

In 1836, [[John Marsh (Pioneer)|John Marsh]], [[Jose Noriega]] and a company of men, went on an exploration of Northern California. They felled trees, made dugout canoes, and ascended the Sacramento River. They proceeded up a tributary, and found a place where the whole surface was covered in feathers. They named it ''El Rio de las Plumas,'' River of the Feathers.<ref>Lyman, George D.  ''John Marsh, Pioneer: The Life Story of a Trail-blazer on Six Frontiers,'' pp. 206–8, The Chautauqua Press, Chautauqua, New York, 1931.</ref><ref>Winkley, John W., ''Dr. John Marsh: Wilderness Scout,'' pp. 54–5, The Parthenon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1962.</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | last=Gannett| first=Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n123 124]}}</ref>

The 1849 [[California Gold Rush]] brought a flood of prospectors and settlers to the region. The American and Indian Valleys were settled in the 1850s. In the Sierra Valley the first settlers arrived in 1852.<ref name=ufrw/>

==The Feather River Route==
{{main|Feather River Route}}
The [[Western Pacific Railroad]] operated a railroad through the Feather River canyon. This route was selected because it leads to a low pass over the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Western Pacific [[California Zephyr]] trains used this route and had a feather in their logo to represent the river.
Today, there is no scheduled passenger service along the Feather River Route. The present day California Zephyr, run by [[Amtrak]], operates over Donner Pass.

==River modifications==
Since 1967, the Feather River's origin at the confluence of its four forks has been submerged under the waters of [[Lake Oroville]], created by the construction of [[Oroville Dam]] in 1967. At about {{convert|770|ft|m}} high, it is the [[List of dams in the United States by height|tallest dam in the United States]] and wields nearly complete control over the flow of the Feather River by creating one of the largest reservoirs in California. The dam was built with the purpose of preventing the frequent floods that often inundated this part of the Sacramento Valley, and to store water for agricultural uses downstream during the dry season. The dam is the principal feature for the [[California State Water Project]], storing water for more than 23 million people and {{convert|750000|acre|ha}} of farmland in Central and Southern California

Directly downstream from Oroville Dam lies the [[Oroville-Thermalito Complex]], which consists of two reservoirs, a Forebay and Afterbay, both used for hydroelectricity generation. Although the water diverted from the Feather for this purpose is returned to the river, the water of downstream canals do not, except in the form of irrigation return flows (agricultural waste water). Downstream of Oroville, the river's flow is sucked away by numerous irrigation canals that supply water to the agricultural businesses of the lower Feather River valley. The heavy usage of water from the river has reduced its flow significantly.

The Feather's main tributaries, the Yuba and the Bear, are also impounded by large dams that provide irrigation water and flood control. [[New Bullards Bar Dam]] and [[Englebright Dam]] are located on the Yuba, and [[Rollins Dam]] and Camp Far West are situated on the Bear. Smaller dams now also block other tributaries, including the Middle, South and North Forks of the Feather. The watershed's high mountain streams are often utilized in complex schemes for [[hydroelectricity]] generation, including the [[Pacific Gas and Electric]] Canyon Power Project on the North Fork, which uses water from [[Lake Almanor]], and the Yuba Hydroelectric Project which taps the Middle and South Forks of the Yuba River.

Water diversions, especially from Lake Oroville, has reduced the [[streamflow]] of the Feather River. The [[USGS]] has operated a [[stream gage]] downriver of Oroville Dam since 1902. The river's average annual [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] between 1902 and 1967, before the dam was built, was {{convert|5834|cuft/s|m3/s}}. From 1969 to 2009 the average flow is {{convert|1086|cuft/s|m3/s}}, mainly due to diversion for power generation at the [[Oroville-Thermalito Complex|Thermalito pumped-storage plant]]. Most of this water is returned to the river further downstream via a tailrace canal. The maximum discharge at this stream gauge was {{convert|230000|cuft/s|m3/s}}, recorded on March 19, 1907. The minimum was {{convert|222|cuft/s|m3/s}}, recorded on September 19, 1972.<ref name=wdr>{{cite web |title= Water resources data for the United States, Water Year 2009; gage 11407000, Feather River at Oroville, CA |publisher= [[USGS]] |url= https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/11407000.2009.pdf |access-date= 4 August 2010}}</ref>

==Ecology==
The [[riparian area]] of the Feather River supports a rich [[biodiversity]] of native [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. The Sierra Nevada reaches have considerable wild river features and steep gradients. In lower reaches, after joining of the forks, there is also significant habitat; near [[Yuba City]], for example, there are extents of the river with numerous [[valley oak]] trees with understory of [[Vitis|wild grape]].

The [[Sedum albomarginatum|Feather River stonecrop]] (''Sedum albomarginatum'') is a rare plant [[endemism|endemic]] to the Feather River watershed.

The [[California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment]] (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for the upper<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://oehha.ca.gov/advisories/feather-river-upper|title=Feather River, Upper|last=Admin|first=OEHHA|date=2014-12-30|work=OEHHA|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en}}</ref> and lower<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://oehha.ca.gov/advisories/feather-river-lower|title=Feather River, Lower|last=Admin|first=OEHHA|date=2014-12-30|work=OEHHA|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en}}</ref> sections of Feather River based on levels of mercury found in fish caught from this water body.

==See also==
* [[Adventist Health Feather River]]
* [[Clio trestle]]
* [[List of rivers of California]]
* [[Feather Canyon]]

==References==
{{Reflist|32em}}

==External links==
{{commons and category}}
*[http://www.kysq.org/docs/fra.pdf The Feather River Anthology (1966)] by [[Kenneth E. Boulding]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060349/http://www.shastacascade.org/plumas/frsb.htm Feather River Canyon]
*[http://www.feather-river-crm.org/ Feather River CRM] [http://www.feather-river-crm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=49 watershed map]
*[https://oac.cdlib.org/search?style=oac4;Institution=California%20State%20Library::California%20History%20Room;idT=ACT-9260 Feather River Canal Company, 1889-1897.]

{{Central Valley Rivers}}
{{State Water Project}}
{{Sierra Nevada}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Feather River| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Sierra Nevada (United States)]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Sacramento River]]
[[Category:Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States]]
[[Category:Geography of the Sacramento Valley]]
[[Category:Rivers of Butte County, California]]
[[Category:Rivers of Plumas County, California]]
[[Category:Rivers of Sierra County, California]]
[[Category:Rivers of Sutter County, California]]
[[Category:Rivers of Yuba County, California]]
[[Category:Rivers of Northern California]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Sierra Nevada in California]]