Nespelem River

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For other uses, see Nespelem.
Nespelem River
Country United States
State Washington
Major city Nespelem
Watershed 224 sq mi (580 km²) [1]
Source
 - coordinates 48°21′5″N 118°55′48″W / 48.35139, -118.93 [2]
 - elevation 3,850 ft (1,173 m) [3]
Mouth Columbia River
 - coordinates 48°7′40″N 119°2′34″W / 48.12778, -119.04278 [2]
 - elevation 961 ft (293 m) [3]
Major tributaries
 - left Little Nespelem River

The Nespelem River is a northern tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is completely contained within Okanogan County and the Colville Indian Reservation.

The name "Nespelem" is said to come from the Indian word nesilim, meaning "flat land".[4]

[edit] Course

The Nespelem River originates in eastern Okanogan County and flows south. It collects several minor tributaries including Stepstone Creek, North Star Creek, and Armstrong Creek, before passing by the town of Nespelem, Washington, the headquarters of the Colville Indian Reservation.

Below the town, the Nespelem River turns west. The Little Nespelem River joins just before the river empties into the Columbia River. This reach of the Columbia River is several miles below Grand Coulee Dam and many miles above Chief Joseph Dam. The impounded Columbia River behind Chief Joseph Dam, into which the Nespelem River flows, is called Rufus Woods Lake.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lake Rufus Woods, Intermountain Province Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
  2. ^ a b USGS GNIS: Nespelem River, USGS, GNIS
  3. ^ a b Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
  4. ^ Phillips, James W. (1971). Washington State Place Names. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-95158-3.