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Soque River

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Coordinates: 34°32′50″N 83°36′59″W / 34.54732°N 83.61629°W / 34.54732; -83.61629
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The Soque River (Cherokee: ᏐᏈ) (Soquee River per 1972 Board on Geographic Names decision[1]) and its watershed are located entirely within the county boundaries of Habersham County in northeast Georgia. The Soque is a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. Portions of the river run along State Route 197.[2]

The highest point in the watershed occurs on 4,430-foot (1,350 m) Tray Mountain. The Soque is 28.5 miles (45.9 km) long,[3] and the watershed covers 83,983 acres (340 km2), 47% of Habersham County’s 178,677 acres (723 km2).[4] Approximately 17,524 acres (71 km2) or 17% of the watershed are within the Chattahoochee National Forest in the Chattooga Ranger District. A portion of the river and watershed is also within the Tray Mountain Wilderness.

A non-profit organization the Soque River Watershed Association was formed in 1998 to protect and restore the Soque River, its tributaries and watershed. The membership based organization hosts events, clean-ups and implements sustainability projects such as construction of a Clarkesville Greenway, cattle fencing projects, streambank restoration, and innovative stormwater management.

Sub-Basins of the Soque River

The Soque River Watershed is made up of 7 watershed sub-basins. From North to South they include:

  • Headwaters - The headwaters area includes a 17.3 square mile area upstream of the confluence of the Left and Right Forks of the Soque River north of Batesville, GA. Major characteristics of this basin include (on the Left Fork) the Tray Mountain Wilderness, and Hwy 356 which connects to Helen, GA. Tributaries on the Right Fork of the Soque include Goshen Creek, High Valley Branch and Baker Branch. A large portion of the Headwaters sub-basin is U.S. Forest Service lands.
  • Raper Creek - The Raper Creek basin arises on the eastern side of the Soque River, and the majority of the 9.6 square mile watershed area is U.S. Forest Service lands. Major characteristics of this basin include Raper Creek Falls, Chastain Branch (known for a small brook trout population), and Oakey Mountain / Moates Knob OHV trails.
  • Shoal Creek - The Shoal Creek basin arises on the eastern side of the Soque River with a watershed area of 9.8 square miles. Shoal Creek, Alley Creek and Nerve Branch are the primary tributaries to this sub-basin. Shoal Creek joins the Soque near King's Bridge on Hwy 197.
  • Deep Creek - The Deep Creek basin arises on the eastern side of the Soque River and has the second largest sub-basin watershed area of 30.2 square miles (Hazel Creek is the largest). This watershed is bisected by Old Hwy 441 or Business 441 and includes the Hollywood community. Liberty Creek, Roberts Branch, Fry Branch and Glade Creek are the primary tributaries to this sub-basin. Deep Creek joins the Soque River above the water intake for the City of Clarkesville. The ridge along Highway 17 between Clarkesville to Hwy 365 serves as the watershed divide between Deep and Hazel Creek sub-basins.
  • Hazel Creek - The Hazel Creek basin is the largest sub-basin watershed area with 31.9 square miles. The city of Demorest sits entirely within this watershed. Portions of Mount Airy and Cornelia also drain to this basin, specifically Camp Creek which arises in Mount Airy City limits and becomes the primary drinking water supply for the city of Cornelia at the Camp Creek Reservoir. Law Creek, Little Hazel, Lick Log Creek and Camp Creek are the primary tributaries to this sub-basin.
  • Beaverdam Creek - The Beaverdam Creek basin arises on the western side of the Soque River and occupies 14.6 square miles. Defining characteristics of this basin are Alec Mountain Road (which parallels Beaverdam Creek and its valley) and Stonepile Road which parallels Sutton Mill Creek.
  • Yellow Bank Creek - The Yellowbank Creek basin, also on the western side of the Soque River, is the smallest of the sub-basins at 6.7 square miles and the last sub-basin to join with the Soque River before the Soque's confluence with the Chattahoochee.

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Soquee River
  2. ^ "The Soque River — Habersham County". Soque River Watershed Association. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 15, 2011
  4. ^ "Two NE Ga. water suppliers recognized by governor". Access North Georgia. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2008-08-22.

34°32′50″N 83°36′59″W / 34.54732°N 83.61629°W / 34.54732; -83.61629

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