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{{For|other rivers named Colorado|Colorado River (disambiguation)}} {{short description|River in Texas, United States}}{{about|the river in Texas |other uses|Colorado River|and|Colorado River (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox river {{Infobox river
| name = Colorado River | name = Colorado River
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology = | name_etymology =
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
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| source1_location = ] | source1_location = ]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|32|40|47|N|101|43|51|W|display=inline}}<ref name="GNIS">{{Cite GNIS|1384149|Colorado River}}</ref> | source1_coordinates= {{coord|32|40|47|N|101|43|51|W|display=inline}}<ref name="GNIS">{{Cite GNIS|1384149|Colorado River}}</ref>
| source1_elevation = {{convert|3280|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="GE">] elevation for ] coordinates.</ref> | source1_elevation = {{convert|2860|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>''Sand Creek, TX,'' 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1970 (1974 rev.)</ref>
| mouth = ] | mouth = ]
| mouth_location = ], at ] | mouth_location = ], at ]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|28|35|41|N|95|58|59|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=GNIS/> | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|28|35|41|N|95|58|59|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=GNIS/>
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=GE/> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="GE">] elevation for ] coordinates.</ref>
| progression = | progression =
| river_system = | river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|39900|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="colorado_river_tx_handbook"/> | basin_size = {{convert|39900|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="colorado_river_tx_handbook">{{cite web|last=Clay|first=Comer|author2=Kleiner, Diana J.|title=Colorado River|work=The ] Online|publisher=The General Libraries at the ] and the ]|date=1999-02-15|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rnc10|access-date=2006-07-22}}</ref>
| tributaries_left = | tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right = | tributaries_right =
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| extra = | extra =
}} }}
⚫ The '''Colorado River''' is an approximately {{convert|862|mi|km|sp=us|adj=mid|-long}} river<ref name="usgs"/> in the ] state of ]. It is the 11th longest river in the United States<ref name="usgs">{{cite report|last=Kammerer|first=J. C.|title=Largest Rivers in the United States|publisher=]|year=1987|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1987/ofr87-242/|access-date=2006-07-15}}</ref> and the longest river with both its ] and its ] within Texas.<ref name=TXhandbook/>


⚫ Its ] and some of its usually dry ] extend into ]. It flows generally southeast from ] through ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], before emptying into the ] at ].<ref name=TXhandbook>{{cite web|first1=Clay|last1=Comer|last2=Kleiner|first2=Diana J.|title=Colorado River|work=The ] Online|publisher=The General Libraries at the ] and the ]|date=1999-02-15|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rnc10|access-date=2006-07-22}}</ref>
⚫ The '''Colorado River''' is an {{convert|862|mi|km|sp=us|adj=on}} long river<ref name="usgs" /> in the ] state of ]. It is the 18th longest river in the United States<ref name="usgs">{{cite journal|author=Kammerer, J.C.|title=Largest Rivers in the United States|publisher=]|year=1987|url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1987/ofr87-242/|accessdate=2006-07-15}}</ref> and the longest river with both its ] and its ] within Texas.<ref name="colorado_river_tx_handbook"/>

⚫ Its ] and some of its usually dry ] extend into ]. It flows generally southeast from ] through Ballinger, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] before emptying into the ] at ].<ref name="colorado_river_tx_handbook">{{cite web|last=Clay|first=Comer|author2=Kleiner, Diana J.|title=Colorado River|work=The ] Online|publisher=The General Libraries at the ] and the ]|date=1999-02-15|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rnc10|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>


== Course == == Course ==
] into ] near ].]] ] into ] near ].]]
The Colorado River originates south of ], on the ], near ]. It flows generally southeast, out of the Llano Estacado and through the ], through several reservoirs including Lake J.B. Thomas, ], and Lake O.H. Ivie. The river flows through several more reservoirs before reaching ], including ], ], ] (commonly referred to as Lake LBJ), and ]. The ] joins the Colorado at Lake LBJ near ]. The ] joins the Colorado at Lake Travis near ]. After passing through Austin, the Colorado River continues flowing southeast until emptying into ] on the ], near ]. The Colorado River originates south of ], on the ] near ]. It flows generally southeast out of the Llano Estacado and through the ], then through several reservoirs including ], ], and ]. The river flows through several more reservoirs before reaching Austin, including ], ], ] (commonly referred to as Lake LBJ), and ]. The ] joins the Colorado at Lake LBJ near ], and the ] joins at Lake Travis near ]. After passing through Austin, the Colorado River continues flowing southeast until emptying into Matagorda Bay on the Gulf of Mexico, near ].


== History == == History ==
The Colorado River, which means "red"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=Colorado|title=Colorado - Diccionario Inglés-Español WordReference.com|publisher=}}</ref> or "reddish" river in Spanish,<ref name=ac>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Colorado (river of Texas)|display=Colorado, a river of Texas}}</ref> was frequently confused by Spanish explorers with the ] to the north.<ref name="colorado_river_tx_handbook" /> The European discoverer of these two neighboring rivers called the present Colorado River the Brazos de Dios, and called the present Brazos the Colorado River, and later the names were reversed.<ref name=ac/> The Colorado River, which means 'red'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=Colorado|title=Colorado - Diccionario Inglés-Español|publisher=WordReference.com}}</ref> or 'reddish' river in Spanish,<ref name=ac>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Colorado (river of Texas)|display=Colorado, a river of Texas}}</ref> was frequently confused by Spanish explorers with the ] to the north.<ref name=TXhandbook/> The European discoverer of these two neighboring rivers called the present Colorado River the {{lang|es|Brazos de Dios}}, and called the present Brazos the Colorado River. The two names would later be reversed.<ref name=ac/>


The upper Colorado River was controlled by ]s from the early 18th century to the late 19th century. In 1757, Spanish Texas attempted to establish an outlying ] on the ], near its confluence with the Colorado River. Nearly defenseless and viewed by the Comanche tribe as a territorial invasion, the mission was sacked in 1758 by about 2,000 Comanches and their allies. The Comanche were not effectively challenged on the upper Colorado River for nearly a century.<ref>{{cite book |last= Hämäläinen |first= Pekka |title= The Comanche Empire |year= 2008 |publisher= Yale University Press|isbn= 978-0-300-12654-9 |pages= 58–60}} Online at </ref> The upper Colorado River was controlled by ]s from the early 18th century to the late 19th century. In 1757, ] attempted to establish an outlying ] (]) on the ], near its confluence with the Colorado River. Nearly defenseless and viewed by the Comanche tribe as a territorial invasion, the mission was sacked in 1758 by about 2,000 Comanches and their allies. The Comanche were not effectively challenged on the upper Colorado River for nearly a century.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hämäläinen|first=Pekka|title=The Comanche Empire|year=2008|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-300-12654-9|pages=58–60|url=https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300151176/comanche-empire}}</ref>


== River modifications == == River modifications ==
The river is an important source of water for farming, cities, and electrical power production. Major man-made ] on the river include ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] in Austin. Collectively, these lakes are known as the ]. In addition to power plants operating on each of the major lakes, waters of the Colorado are used for cooling the ], near Bay City. The ] owns and operates three reservoirs upstream of the Highland Lakes, Lake J. B. Thomas near Snyder, ] near Robert Lee, and O. H. Ivie Reservoir near Ballinger. The river is an important source of water for farming, cities, and electrical power production. Major man-made ] on the river include Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, ], Lake Travis, ], Town Lake now called ] in Austin. Collectively, these lakes are known as the ]. In addition to power plants operating on each of the major lakes, waters of the Colorado are used for cooling the ] near Bay City. The ] owns and operates three reservoirs upstream of the Highland Lakes: ] near ], ] near ], and ] near Ballinger.


Flood control and use of the Colorado River is managed by two agencies established by the ], the ], and the ]. There are 11 major reservoirs along the Colorado River.<ref name="river_basin">{{cite web|title=River Basin Map of Texas|publisher=Bureau of Economic Geology, ]|year=1996|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/geo/pics/rivers.jpg|format=]|accessdate=2006-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712064626/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/geo/pics/rivers.jpg|archive-date=2006-07-12|dead-url=yes}}</ref> Flood control and use of the Colorado River is managed by two agencies established by the ]: the ] and the ]. There are 11 major reservoirs along the Colorado River.<ref name="river_basin">{{cite web|title=River Basin Map of Texas|publisher=Bureau of Economic Geology, ]|year=1996|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/geo/pics/rivers.jpg|format=JPEG|access-date=2006-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627154224/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/geo/pics/rivers.jpg|archive-date=2017-06-27|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_pl_w7000_1187a/media/28.pdf|title=Texas Rivers and Reservoirs|date=2005-08-22|work=]|publisher=]|via=]|format=PDF}}</ref>


==Major tributaries== ==Major tributaries==
{{main article|List of tributaries of the Colorado River (Texas)}} {{main|List of tributaries of the Colorado River (Texas)}}
The Colorado River is joined by five significant ]: ], ], ], ] and ]. ] is also a tributary fed by ] such as ], McKenzie, Seminole, Monument, Mustang, Midland, and Johnson Draws.<ref>Rand McNally and Company. The road atlas, large scale '07 (Map). pp. 199-200. {{ISBN|9780528958342}}</ref> The Colorado River is joined by five significant ]: the ], ], the Llano River, the San Saba River and the Pedernales River. ] is also a tributary fed by ] such as the ], the ], and the McKenzie, Seminole, Monument, Mustang, and Midland draws.<ref>{{cite map|author=Rand McNally|title=The Road Atlas: United States Large-Scale|publisher=]|edition=2007|page=199–200|isbn=9780528958342}}</ref>


==Gallery== ==Gallery==
<gallery> <gallery>
File:PennybackerBridge.jpg|] crossing the ] portion of the Colorado River. File:PennybackerBridge.jpg|] crossing the ] portion of the Colorado River
File:Colorado River Borden County Texas 2011.jpg|Colorado River {{convert|5|mi|0|abbr=on}} from its source along the ], border of ] and ]. File:Colorado River Borden County Texas 2011.jpg|The Colorado River {{convert|5|mi|0|abbr=on}} from its source along the ], the border of ] and ].
File:Colorado River of Texas IMG 0784.JPG|Colorado River under the ] on the border of ] and ] counties. File:Colorado River of Texas IMG 0784.JPG|Colorado River under the ] on the border of ] and ]
File:Colorado River under bridge in Wharton, TX IMG 1056.JPG|Scenic view of Colorado River meandering under a bridge overpass under ] in ]. File:Colorado River under bridge in Wharton, TX IMG 1056.JPG|Scenic view of Colorado River meandering under a bridge overpass under ] in ]
File:Scene on the Colorado River, Austin, Texas.jpg|Scene on the Colorado River, Austin, Texas (postcard, circa 1907) File:Scene on the Colorado River, Austin, Texas.jpg|Scene on the Colorado River, Austin, Texas (postcard, {{circa|1907}})
File:Eagle Lake TX Colorado River Marker.JPG|Historical marker on ] between Eagle Lake and Altair explains the difficulty of navigating the lower Colorado River in the 1800s. File:Eagle Lake TX Colorado River Marker.JPG|A historical marker on ] between ] and ] explains the difficulty of navigating the lower Colorado River in the 1800s.
File:BullCreek.jpg|Old postcard of ] in Austin File:BullCreek.jpg|Old postcard of ] in Austin
File:Colorado River at Columbus, TX IMG_8244.JPG|Colorado River east of ], Texas File:Colorado River at Columbus, TX IMG 8244.JPG|Colorado River east of ], Texas
File:Dazzling water textures and colors - near sculpture falls Austin green belt (TX, USA).jpg|Water reflections on sculpture falls
</gallery> </gallery>


== See also == == See also ==
*] * ]
*] * ]
⚫ * ]
⚫ *] — ''river's mouth''
* ]
⚫ *]
⚫ * ]—the river's mouth
⚫ *]
⚫ * ]


== Notes == == References ==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist|2}}


== External links == == External links ==
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{{Wikisource|Colorado River}} {{Wikisource|Colorado River}}
*{{Handbook of Texas|id=rnc10|name=Colorado River}} *{{Handbook of Texas|id=rnc10|name=Colorado River}}
* *
* *


{{Waters of Texas}}
{{Austin|state=collapsed}} {{Austin|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}


] ]
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Latest revision as of 18:28, 22 August 2024

River in Texas, United StatesThis article is about the river in Texas. For other uses, see Colorado River and Colorado River (disambiguation).
Colorado River
Colorado River in Austin as seen from Mount Bonnell
Map of the Colorado River and associated watershed
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationDawson County
 • coordinates32°40′47″N 101°43′51″W / 32.67972°N 101.73083°W / 32.67972; -101.73083
 • elevation2,860 ft (870 m)
MouthMatagorda Bay
 • locationGulf of Mexico, at Matagorda County, Texas
 • coordinates28°35′41″N 95°58′59″W / 28.59472°N 95.98306°W / 28.59472; -95.98306
 • elevation0 ft (0 m)
Length862 mi (1,387 km)
Basin size39,900 sq mi (103,000 km)
Discharge 
 • locationBay City
 • average2,609 cu ft/s (73.9 m/s)
 • minimum0 cu ft/s (0 m/s)
 • maximum84,100 cu ft/s (2,380 m/s)

The Colorado River is an approximately 862-mile-long (1,387 km) river in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the 11th longest river in the United States and the longest river with both its source and its mouth within Texas.

Its drainage basin and some of its usually dry tributaries extend into New Mexico. It flows generally southeast from Dawson County through Ballinger, Marble Falls, Lago Vista, Austin, Bastrop, Smithville, La Grange, Columbus, Wharton, and Bay City, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at Matagorda Bay.

Course

Oblique air photo of the Colorado River where it crosses from Colorado County into Wharton County near Nada.

The Colorado River originates south of Lubbock, on the Llano Estacado near Lamesa. It flows generally southeast out of the Llano Estacado and through the Texas Hill Country, then through several reservoirs including Lake J.B. Thomas, E.V. Spence Reservoir, and O.H. Ivie Lake. The river flows through several more reservoirs before reaching Austin, including Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake Lyndon B. Johnson (commonly referred to as Lake LBJ), and Lake Travis. The Llano River joins the Colorado at Lake LBJ near Kingsland, and the Pedernales River joins at Lake Travis near Briarcliff. After passing through Austin, the Colorado River continues flowing southeast until emptying into Matagorda Bay on the Gulf of Mexico, near Matagorda.

History

The Colorado River, which means 'red' or 'reddish' river in Spanish, was frequently confused by Spanish explorers with the Brazos River to the north. The European discoverer of these two neighboring rivers called the present Colorado River the Brazos de Dios, and called the present Brazos the Colorado River. The two names would later be reversed.

The upper Colorado River was controlled by Comanches from the early 18th century to the late 19th century. In 1757, Spanish Texas attempted to establish an outlying Catholic mission (Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá) on the San Saba River, near its confluence with the Colorado River. Nearly defenseless and viewed by the Comanche tribe as a territorial invasion, the mission was sacked in 1758 by about 2,000 Comanches and their allies. The Comanche were not effectively challenged on the upper Colorado River for nearly a century.

River modifications

The river is an important source of water for farming, cities, and electrical power production. Major man-made reservoirs on the river include Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Town Lake now called Lady Bird Lake in Austin. Collectively, these lakes are known as the Highland Lakes. In addition to power plants operating on each of the major lakes, waters of the Colorado are used for cooling the South Texas Nuclear Project near Bay City. The Colorado River Municipal Water District owns and operates three reservoirs upstream of the Highland Lakes: Lake J. B. Thomas near Snyder, E.V. Spence Reservoir near Robert Lee, and O.H. Ivie Lake near Ballinger.

Flood control and use of the Colorado River is managed by two agencies established by the Texas Legislature: the Upper Colorado River Authority and the Lower Colorado River Authority. There are 11 major reservoirs along the Colorado River.

Major tributaries

Main article: List of tributaries of the Colorado River (Texas)

The Colorado River is joined by five significant tributaries: the Concho River, Pecan Bayou, the Llano River, the San Saba River and the Pedernales River. Beals Creek is also a tributary fed by arroyos such as the Sulphur Springs Draw, the Johnson Draw, and the McKenzie, Seminole, Monument, Mustang, and Midland draws.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "Colorado River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. Sand Creek, TX, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1970 (1974 rev.)
  3. Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
  4. Clay, Comer; Kleiner, Diana J. (1999-02-15). "Colorado River". The Handbook of Texas Online. The General Libraries at the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  5. ^ Kammerer, J. C. (1987). Largest Rivers in the United States (Report). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
  6. ^ Comer, Clay; Kleiner, Diana J. (1999-02-15). "Colorado River". The Handbook of Texas Online. The General Libraries at the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  7. "Colorado - Diccionario Inglés-Español". WordReference.com.
  8. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Colorado, a river of Texas" . The American Cyclopædia.
  9. Hämäläinen, Pekka (2008). The Comanche Empire. Yale University Press. pp. 58–60. ISBN 978-0-300-12654-9.
  10. "River Basin Map of Texas". Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin. 1996. Archived from the original (JPEG) on 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
  11. "Texas Rivers and Reservoirs" (PDF). Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. Texas Parks and Wildlife. 2005-08-22 – via University of Texas at Austin.
  12. Rand McNally. The Road Atlas: United States Large-Scale (Map) (2007 ed.). Rand McNally and Company. p. 199–200. ISBN 9780528958342.

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