Black River (Chehalis River tributary)
| Black River | |
|---|---|
 Wetland near Black River in December 2023 | |
   Interactive map of River location | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Thurston County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• coordinates | 46°49′16″N 123°13′10″W / 46.82111°N 123.21944°W |
| Length | 25 mi (40 km) |
| Basin size | 144 sq mi (370 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Black River→ Chehalis River→ Pacific Ocean |
The Black River is a river in Thurston County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is approximately 25 miles (40 km) long with a drainage basin of about 144 square miles (370 km2).[1]
History
[edit]In November of 1824, an expedition commanded by James McMillan set out to travel through the Black River and Black Lake.[2] One of the explorers, fur trader John Work, described the Black River as "so named from the colour of its water ... A great many dead salmon are in the river, and many that are just alive and barely able to move through the water."[3]
In 1922,[4] a ditch was created to connect the river to Percival Creek, making Black River the only waterway to drain to the Puget Sound (via Budd Inlet) and the Pacific Coast.[5][6][7]
Course
[edit]The Black River's source is Black Lake, located about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Tumwater. The river flows generally south, through Littlerock, near the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, then southwest, passing through the Black River Habitat Management Area and the town of Rochester, before meandering west through the community of Gate and entering Grays Harbor County, where it empties into the Chehalis River in the Chehalis Indian Reservation.[8]
Wildlife refuge
[edit].jpg)
The northern part of the river (near Black Lake) is part of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge "Black River Unit", which provides a wildlife habitat for species including:[4]
Birds
[edit]- American green-winged teal
- American wigeon
- bald eagle
- Canada geese (Pacific population)
- Caspian tern
- double-crested cormorant
- gadwall
- greater white-fronted goose (Pacific population)
- mallard (Western population)
- northern pintail
- northern shoveler
- peregrine falcon
- rufous hummingbird
- Virginia rail
- waterfowl
Fish
[edit]Frogs
[edit]See also
[edit]- List of rivers in Washington
- Black Lake (Washington)
- Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
References
[edit]- ^ "Chehalis River Basin Nonpoint Action Plan - Black River". Chehalis River Council. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- ^ Crooks, Drew. W. "Pierre Charles in the Pacific Northwest" (PDF). Columbia. 4 (Spring 1990): 29. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
- ^ a b "Black River Unit protects fragile and unique natural habitats and their wildlife". Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Black River / Chehalis Watershed". Capitol Land Trust. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "Black Lake Basin Study". Thurston County. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "Percival Creek Gets Water Flow from Black Lake". Washington Standard. Washington State Library. April 8, 1921. p. 6. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Course info mainly from: Washington Road & Recreation Atlas. Benchmark Maps. 2000. and [1]
