Topography and Geology
Cloquallum Creek is a relatively small perennial stream that originates in the foothills six miles northeast of McCleary near Lost Lake, in Mason County. It drains an area of approximately 70 square miles. It flows generally south or southwesterly to its confluence with the Chehalis near Elma. The creek has a low gradient from its headwaters to its mouth. The stream channel varies from 7 to 16 yards in width and has gravel as its predominant bottom material. The largest tributary is Wildcat Creek which originates just north of McCleary and joins Cloquallum Creek east of Elma. It joins the Chehalis at RM 25.2.
The drainage is characterized as a fairly broad, low, flat valley bounded by moderate to steeply sloped low elevation foothills.
The watershed receives its water from stream runoff, direct precipitation, lake drainage, and ground water flow. It is characterized by many small streams and Wildcat Creek, which has three branches and drains a large area. The four major lakes in the area are Stump, Arrowhead, Lost, and Star. The average discharge of the Cloquallum is 274 cfs. The maximum recorded discharge was 5,080 cfs in December 1959. The minimum recorded discharge was 6.8 cfs in September, 1945 (USGS, 1992).
The soils in this watershed have their origins from ancient volcano activity, sediment deposits, alluvial deposit and glacial outwash. Most forest soils have relatively poor ground water retention. The agricultural soils have problems with wetness which severely restricts their agricultural usage to the dryer months.
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The climate of the drainage is typical of the lowland portions of the Chehalis River Basin as a whole. Rainfall ranges from 60 to 85 inches annually.
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The urban areas of Elma and McCleary are the only major population centers. There are scattered rural residences and farms which decrease in density as the creek rises to its headwaters in the foothills. There are concentrations of homes, cabins, trailer parks and resorts at Star and Arrowhead Lakes.
Using 1990 U.S. Bureau of Census data and maps for the area, and relating census block numbers to the watershed boundary of the Cloquallum basin, the subbasin population appears to be 3,000.
Based upon an average for the entire Chehalis River Basin of 2.29 people per household, there are close to 1,300 households in this subbasin.
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McCleary and Elma are the only two communities with municipal water systems. Both communities obtain their municipal water supply from wells, and water for future growth will probably come from wells. The industrial water supply for Simpson Mill in McCleary is a well, from which 133 acre-feet can be withdrawn annually. The total instantaneous rate of diversion for commercial/industrial use from the surface water resource is less than 1 cfs. Agriculture represents the largest single purpose use of water. According to current information, about 400 acres are covered by surface water irrigation rights. However, the latest agriculture census indicates only a quarter of those acres are actually irrigated. Most agriculture in this subbasin is located along the lower Cloquallum and on the Chehalis flood plain below Elma (Ecology, 1980).
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Agriculture is confined to the area near the mouth of Cloquallum Creek. It consists primarily of some croplands, 2,751 acres of pastures, and 1,834 acres of livestock areas. Most farms are small in area and interspersed between rural residences. Approximately 400 acres have surface water irrigation rights (Ecology, 1980).
Over 39,000 acres of the watershed is in commercial forestry. Simpson Timber Company has two major plantations in the upper reaches of the creek and is the largest forest landowner. The predominant species grown is Douglas fir. There are two major forest products mills in the area, one each at McCleary and Elma.
Virtually all such development is confined to the urban areas of Elma and McCleary.
Urban development is confined to Elma and McCleary. There is some heavy clustered recreational residendial development occurring at Star and Arrowhead Lakes.
There are many rural residences in the lower watershed area, with both farms and non-farm ownerships.
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Cloquallum Creek supports significant runs of chum, Chinook and coho Salmon. Its tributary streams have coho and a few chum. The lower ten miles of the creek are the spawning beds of Chinook and chum. The majority of coho spawn in the upper reaches of the creek and its tributaries. Most of the watershed is accessible for spawning and rearing habitat. Some barriers (such as beaver dams, log jams, waterfalls and a dam) exist on the tributaries and block coho migration. Predatory fish species exist and are believed to be a limiting factor on fish production. The creek also contains sea run cutthroat and steelhead in the lower reaches and rainbow and cutthroat in the upper reaches. Lakes in the subbasin are known to contain rainbow and Eastern brook trout.
The watershed provides excellent habitat for big game such as deer and elk as it is mostly forested. The lower reaches of the creek with mixed agricultural uses provide habitat for upland game birds, songbirds, waterfowl, small game and many unprotected small animals.
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Based upon projections from the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Forecasting Division (OFM, 1992), the entire Chehalis River Basin is experiencing growth. Using data from the three major counties (Thurston, Lewis, and Grays Harbor) this growth rate between now and the year 2000 could be 2.7% (low), 26% (high), or 11% (average).
Applying these figures to today's population and housing units results in the following estimates for the Cloquallum Basin:
By the year 2010, the growth rate could be 6.1% (low), 53% (high), or 23% (average):
While this subbasin has not experienced high or even average growth rates, high rates of growth in nearby population centers are encouraging residential development in rural areas. This spillover effect could cause growth to exceed traditional norms.
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Water quality plans for this subbasin are reviewed in the basin-wide overview section of the Chehalis River Basin Characterization and the Water Quality Assessment.
Back to top or back to Action Plan home page or back to Action Plan Vol II Index Revised and corrected, April 2000 -
1990 Pop. in 2000 Units in 2000
Pop. Units low hi avg low hi avg
3000 1300 3081 3780 3330 1335 1638 1443
1990 Pop. in 2010 Units in 2010
Pop. Units low hi avg low hi avg
3000 1300 3183 4590 3690 1379 1989 1599