Ruby Creek (Washington)

Ruby Creek is a tributary of the Skagit River located in the North Cascades of Northwestern Washington. The river's watershed drains the southern Washington portion of the Hozameen Range, and the western section of the North Cascades Scenic Corridor. The creek was named by three prospectors, John Sutter, George Sanger, and John Rowley, in 1872. Sutter believed he found a ruby in the creek, leading to the name, however the stone was actually a misidentified garnet.[4][5] Ruby Creek had an original length of approximately 11 kilometers, before the lower 6 kilometers were inundated by Ross Lake, reducing it to its current length of 5 kilometers.

Ruby Creek
Ruby Creek (Washington) is located in Washington (state)
Ruby Creek (Washington)
Mouth of Ruby Creek
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyWhatcom
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Granite Creek and Canyon Creek
 • coordinates47°49′05″N 124°18′05″W[1]
 • elevation1,880 ft (570 m)approx.[2]
MouthRoss Lake
 • coordinates
48°42′43″N 120°59′11″W[1]
 • elevation
1,604 ft (489 m)Subject to changes in reservoir water levels
Length3.39[3] mi (5.46 km)
Basin size208.86[3] sq mi (540.9 km2)
Discharge 
 • average20.37[3] m3/s (719 cu ft/s)estimated

History

Ruby Creek was first discovered in the summer of 1859 by most likely Henry Custer, however, there is a questionable account of prospectors in the area earlier that year. Ruby creek would not be visited again until the year of its naming 1872. In 1879 substantial amounts of gold were found in the creek, leading to its first mining claim "Nip and Tuck" and with it the start of the first gold rush in the North Cascades.[6] In excess of 600 claims were filed, and between several hundred and 2,500 people worked the creek, however low profitability ended most mining by the fall of 1880. Small amounts of mining persisted in the area, most notably the Ruby Hydraulic Gold Mining Co. mine operating between the late 1890s and early 1900s located approximately two miles up the creek from its confluence with the Skagit River, the site was flooded by Ross Lake in 1947.

The area was never heavily settled, however many cabins, and a store were constructed in the area during the gold rush period.[6]

Tributaries
  • Canyon Creek
  • Granite Creek

Left
  • Panther Creek
  • 5 unnamed watercourses [2]
  • Crater Creek
  • 2 unnamed watercourses [2]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ruby Creek
  2. Approximate values Calculated in Google Earth
  3. "National Hydrography Dataset Plus". EPA Watershed Report. Environmental Protection Agency. 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  4. "Ruby Creek". Washington Place Names. Tacoma Public Library. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  5. Mount Baker NP history files, Actg. Supervisor R.L. Fromme, Nov. 23, 1937, to Regional Forester, Portland. Retrieved 29 September 2018
  6. "Chapter 5 Mining". North Cascades History Basic Data. National Park Service. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
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