Amon Creek
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| Amon Creek | |
|---|---|
 The West Fork of Amon Creek in Richland | |
  Location of the mouth of Amon Creek in Washington  Amon Creek (Washington (state)) | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Cities | Kennewick, Richland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Rural Benton County, Washington, United States |
| • coordinates | 46°05′48″N 119°16′02″W / 46.09667°N 119.26722°W[1] |
| • elevation | 1,688 ft (515 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Yakima River |
• location | Richland, Benton County, Washington, United States |
• coordinates | 46°14′50″N 119°15′41″W / 46.24722°N 119.26139°W |
• elevation | 351 ft (107 m) |
| Length | 13 mi (21 km)[1] Length measured from the East Fork Source to Mouth at the Yakima River. |
| Basin size | 62.24 sq mi (161.2 km2)[3] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Mouth[3] |
| • average | 54 cu ft/s (1.5 m3/s)[3] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | West Fork Amon Creek |
| • right | East Fork Amon Creek |
Amon Creek is the largest tributary of the Lower Yakima River[4] in Benton County, Washington. From the source of its East Fork to its mouth at the Yakima, it flows about 13 miles (21 km), passing through Kennewick and Richland. The East Fork as well as the main course north of where both forks come together flow south to north. The West Fork starts in Badger Canyon by heading south, but slowly wraps around along with the topography of the canyon to flow out of it northbound. There is an easily visible riparian zone along most of the length of the main course, along with the West Fork up Badger Canyon and the East Fork until I-82.
Main course
The entire course of Amon Creek, as well as its two forks, is within Benton County. The creek flows through the semi-arid climate in the rain shadow of the Cascade mountains. Because of this, the creek serves an important role as an oasis, especially outside of developed areas.
The flow in the West Fork mainly comes from springs in and around Badger Canyon whereas the flow in the East Fork is primarily runoff from nearby irrigation canals.[5]
The East and West Forks of Amon Creek come together at the Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland. It then flows north in a canyon through residential portions of Richland. After passing under Columbia Park Trail, the creek enters the dense forest of the Yakima River Delta before ending at the Yakima River a mile from where it meets the Columbia. Only about 1% of the discharge into the Yakima River is natural.[3]
West Fork
The West Fork of Amon Creek rises in Badger Canyon southwest of Richland. It flows through the canyon parallel to Badger Road until near Cottonwood Elementary School, where it breaks away and flows under Interstate 82 to the west of Badger Road. From there it flows through the Amon Creek Natural Preserve. After that it flows into the Meadow Springs Country Club where it meets the East Fork.
East Fork
The East Fork of Amon Creek rises in the Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick and typically only flows when the irrigation canals are full. Above Interstate 82, the East Fork is usually dry except in times of heavy snow melt or rainfall. After passing under I-82 and entering Kennewick, the East Fork is largely used as a wasteway for canals operated by the Kennewick Irrigation District (KID). It then flows past orchards, under Clearwater Avenue, briefly through Amon Basin, and enters the Meadow Springs Country Club.
Amon Basin
| Amon Basin | |
|---|---|
| Floor elevation | 500 feet (200 m) |
| Length | 1.1 miles (1.8 km) |
| Width | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
| Geography | |
| Rivers | Amon Creek |
 | |
Amon Basin is a bowl-shaped area upstream of the Meadow Springs Country Club which holds both the West Fork and the East Fork of Amon Creek. While the two forks pass within about a third of a mile of each other, their confluence is about a mile upstream.
The Amon Basin has unique ecological significance to the area, especially in the wetlands along the West Fork where several different kinds of animals can be seen. Outside of the riparian zone, one finds sagebrush as well as animal life that is typical of the Columbia Basin.[4]
The basin extends further south along the West Fork than it does along the East Fork.
Recreation
There are several recreational opportunities along the length of the creek. South of Thompson Hill, many people make use of small two-track roads that cross the East Fork for off-roading. On the West Fork just north of I-82, there is the Amon Creek Nature Preserve in Amon Basin which includes several trails for hiking and observing the wildlife. The confluence of the two forks is in the Meadow Springs Country Club, which is an 18-hole golf course.[5] At the mouth of the creek in the Yakima River Delta there is a dense forest administered by the USACE which holds many trails for hiking and mountain biking.
Bird watching is also popular along the entire length of the creek as many migrant birds utilize the ecosystem around the creek while they are in the Columbia Basin.[6]
Wildlife
Below Meadow Springs Country Club, several fish species have been spotted. In some years, these can include salmon[7] and trout,[5] however summer water temperatures, which can exceed 74 °F (23 °C), can be lethal to fish populations. The creek also serves as an oasis with heightened amounts of vegetation around it. The basin around the creek serves as a home to hares, quail and beavers.[8] River otters[8] have been spotted in the creek.
In Amon Basin, there are about a half dozen beaver dams which form small ponds along the length of the creek in that area.
It is believed that fish hatcheries run by the Yakama Nation have contributed to the fish population in the creek.[7]