Susan River (California)
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Susan River
| native_name = {{Native name|nmu|Pam Sewim}}
| name_other =
| name_etymology =
| image = Pinus ponderosa subsp benthamiana Susan River.jpg
| image_caption =
| map = Honey_Lake_Basin-01.png
| map_size =
| map_caption = The Susan River drainage is part of the endorheic Honey-Eagle lakes watershed of the Great Basin.
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption=
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = California
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = Lassen County
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 = Cities
| subdivision_name5 = Susanville, Johnstonville, Litchfield
| length = {{convert|67|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location= Susanville, {{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=on}} from the mouth
| discharge1_min = {{convert|0.6|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|88|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max = {{convert|5850|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| source1 = Caribou Lake
| source1_location = 11 miles west of Norvell in the Lassen National Forest, Sierra Nevada, California
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|40|30|10|N|121|09|51|W|display=inline}}{{gnis|235834|Susan River}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|6571|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Honey Lake
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|40|20|11|N|120|15|27|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|3993|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|1170|sqmi|abbr=on}}[https://archive.today/20121209152443/http://honeylakevalleyrcd.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SRWMS-BBQ-Powerpoint-Presentation-6-11-12.pptx ]
| tributaries_left = Piute Creek, Willow Creek
| tributaries_right =
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}}
The Susan River ({{langx|nmu|Pam Sewim}}, bush creek)Simmons, W. S., Morales, R., Williams, V., & Camacho, S. (1997). Honey Lake Maidu Ethnogeography of Lassen County, California . Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 19(1), 2–31. ISSN 0191-3557 [https://escholarship.org/content/qt8xz6j609/qt8xz6j609.pdf] is a northeastern California river of approximately {{convert|67|mi}} lengthU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-03-29 }}, accessed March 17, 2011 that drains from an arid plateau of volcanic highlands along the Great Basin Divide to intermittent Honey Lake. The river flows from eastern Lassen County from east of Lassen Volcanic National Park generally east past Susanville and emerging into a ranching valley to enter the north end of Honey Lake. Along with Fredonyer Pass, the Susan River is the northern boundary of the Sierra Nevada.{{cite web |title=Subsection M261Eb: Fredonyer Butte – Grizzly Peak |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/projects/ecoregions/m261eb.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205212103/http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/projects/ecoregions/m261eb.htm |archivedate=2010-12-05 |accessdate=2014-02-22}}
History
Susan River and the town of Susanville were named for Susan Roop, daughter of early settler Issac Roop, in 1857.{{cite book |title=500 California place names: their origin and meaning |author=William Bright, Erwin Gustav Gudde |publisher=University of California Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-520-21271-8 |page= 147 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CET4QodMZysC&q=susan&pg=PA147 |accessdate=2011-12-29 }}
Watershed
Susan River begins at Caribou Lake at elevation {{convert|6571|ft}}, which is dammed by Caribou Lake 234 Dam. It flows eastward, curving southeasterly as it enters the Great Basin, where it is joined on the left by Bridge Creek and dammed to form McCoy Flat Reservoir, approximately 11 miles northwest of Susanville. It next receives order from the right (heading downstream) Crazy Harry Gulch, Willard Creek, and Williams Creek before entering Susanville, where it receives Piute Creek from the left. Below Susanville, it receives from the left Gold Run Creek, Lassen Creek and Sand Slough, the latter at Johnstonville. At Johnstonville, the Lake Leavitt Inlet Canal diverts Susan River flows south to Lake Leavitt. After being joined by Willow Creek from the left, the Susan River passes below Litchfield and is extensively modified by a complicated system of canals and levees for irrigation of the surrounding ranching areas. Next, the river reaches the Honey Lake State Wildlife Area and finally Honey Lake itself at elevation {{convert|3993|ft}}.