| Sauk River | |
|---|---|
 The Sauk River along SR530, north of Darrington, Washington | |
  Location of the mouth of the Sauk River in Washington  Location of the Sauk River in the United States | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Counties | Skagit, Snohomish |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of N. Fork and S. Fork Sauk River |
| • coordinates | 48°5′59″N 121°23′28″W / 48.09972°N 121.39111°W[1] |
| Mouth | Skagit River |
• coordinates | 48°28′53″N 121°36′20″W / 48.48139°N 121.60556°W[1] |
• elevation | 217 ft (66 m) |
| Length | 39.7 mi (63.9 km) |
| Basin size | 732 sq mi (1,896 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Suiattle River, White Chuck River |
| Designated | November 10, 1978 |
The Sauk River is the largest tributary of the Skagit River, rising in the Cascade Mountains of western Washington. The river flows 39.7 mi (63.9 km) from the meeting of its north and south forks to its confluence with the Skagit near Rockport.
Course
editThe main stem of the Sauk River forms from the confluence of its North and South Forks near Bedal Peak, running for a total of 39.7 mi (63.9 km) until its confluence with the Skagit. Together, the Sauk Forks drain an area of 123 sq mi (320 km2). The South Fork originates on the northern slopes of Columbia Peak, while the North Fork begins near Johnson Mountain.[2]
At 7.8 mi (12.6 km) northwest from the confluence of the forks, the river takes in the White Chuck River from the east. It continues flowing to the northwest for another 10.5 mi (16.9 km) until it runs adjacent to the town of Darrington. Here, the previously confined river valley opens up into a larger, shallower floodplain. The Suiattle River enters the Sauk on its east at 8.7 mi (14.0 km) north of Darrington. It continues its northward trajectory until it meets the Skagit south of the town of Rockport.[3]
Hydrology
editGeology
editBoth the Sauk Forks run through narrow, U-shaped valleys carved by glacial erosion.[2]
Ecosystem
editHistory
editMajor wildfires swept the Sauk basin in 1508, 1701, and 1834. The introduction of modern forestry to the region in the 1880s suppressed large wildfires.[4]
References
editBibliography
edit- Jaeger, Kristin L.; Curran, Christopher A.; Anderson, Scott W.; Morris, Scott; Moran, Patrick W.; Reams, Katherine A. (2017). Suspended Sediment, Turbidity, and Stream Water Temperature in the Sauk River Basin, Western Washington, Water Years 2012–16 (PDF) (Report). United States Geological Survey.
- Keck, Jeffery (2023). New Methods for Coupling Climate-Driven Hydrology with Hillslope and Channel Geomorphic Processes at the Watershed Scale (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Washington.
- Palmer, Tim (1993). The Wild and Scenic Rivers of America. Island Press.
- Skagit Watershed Council (2023). Sauk River Habitat Protection and Restoration Assessment and Plan (PDF) (Report).
- Tabor, Rowland W.; Haugerud, Ralph Albert (1999). Geology of the North Cascades: A Mountain Mosaic. The Mountaineers. ISBN 9780898866230.
- Tabor, Rowland W.; Booth, D. B.; Vance, J. A.; Ford, A. B. (2002). Geologic Map of the Sauk River 30- by 60-Minute Quadrangle, Washington (Report). United States Geological Survey.
- United States Forest Service (1996). Sauk River Watershed Analysis (PDF) (Report).
Further reading
edit- The Skagit: A Study of the Skagit, Cascade, Sauk, Suiattle Rivers in Washington State for Possible Inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System: Joint Report (Report). United States Forest Service. 1973. OCLC 2110226.