Alder Creek (Nevada County, California)

Alder Creek is a perennial stream in Nevada County, California,[6] mostly within the town of Truckee. Its source region near Donner Ridge is west of town, and its mouth at Prosser Creek Reservoir is north of town. It flows to the Truckee River via Prosser Creek.

Alder Creek
Tributary to Prosser Creek
Alder Creek
Alder Creek just below Fjord Road, Truckee
Map of Alder Creek mouth location
Map of Alder Creek mouth location
Location of Alder Creek mouth
Map of Alder Creek mouth location
Map of Alder Creek mouth location
Alder Creek (Nevada County, California) (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyNevada
Physical characteristics
SourceNegro Canyon divide
 • locationDonner Ridge
 • coordinates39°22′59″N 120°37′34″W / 39.38306°N 120.62611°W / 39.38306; -120.62611[1]
 • elevation7,490 ft (2,280 m)[2]
MouthProsser Creek
 • location
Prosser Creek Reservoir, about 2 miles north-northwest of Polaris, California
 • coordinates
39°22′39″N 120°38′42″W / 39.37750°N 120.64500°W / 39.37750; -120.64500[1]
 • elevation
5,741 ft (1,750 m)[3]
Length8.89 mi (14.31 km)[4]
Basin size12.65 square miles (32.8 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • locationProsser Creek
 • average15.55 cu ft/s (0.440 m3/s) at mouth with Prosser Creek[5]
Basin features
ProgressionProsser CreekTruckee RiverPyramid Lake
River systemTruckee River
Tributaries 
 • leftunnamed tributaries
 • rightunnamed tributaries
BridgesSkislope Way, Snowpeak Way, Fjord Road, Schussing Way, Alder Creek Road, CA 89
Alder Creek panoramic view at Emigrant Trail footbridge
Alder Creek debouches into Prosser Creek Reservoir, at a location depending on the reservoir level, which is low here in October, 2020.
A beaver pond on Alder Creek

Donner Party camp

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Plaque about the Donner women at the Alder Creek Valley camp memorial
 
Donner Party camp plaque, at Alder Creek Valley memorial

The Donner Party camped in Alder Creek Valley when stopped by snow in November, 1846. There is a memorial to them off California route 89 just north of the creek.

References

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  1. ^ a b "GNIS Detail - Alder Creek". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Get Maps". USGS Topoview. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Get Maps". USGS Topoview. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Alder Creek Watershed Report". US EPA Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Alder Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved November 4, 2020.