Tye River (Washington)
| Tye River | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Source | Cascade Range |
| - location | Stevens Pass |
| - coordinates | 47°44′28″N 121°5′12″W / 47.74111°N 121.08667°W |
| Mouth | South Fork Skykomish River |
| - coordinates | 47°42′18″N 121°18′21″W / 47.70500°N 121.30583°WCoordinates: 47°42′18″N 121°18′21″W / 47.70500°N 121.30583°W |
| Length | 11 mi (18 km) |
| Basin | 81 sq mi (210 km2) |
| Discharge | for near Skykomish |
| - average | 305 cu ft/s (8.6 m3/s) |
| - max | 1,500 cu ft/s (42.5 m3/s) |
| - min | 50 cu ft/s (1.4 m3/s) |
  Location of the mouth of the Tye River in Washington
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The Tye River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It rises near Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains and flows west, joining the Foss River to form the South Fork Skykomish River. Its waters eventually empty into Puget Sound near Everett via the Skykomish River and Snohomish River. U.S. Route 2 follows the river's entire length. A BNSF Railway line follows most of the river except near the pass where the tracks use the Cascade Tunnel. Powerlines run by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) follow the Tye River west of Tunnel Creek.
Most of the Tye River drainage basin is within Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
The Tye River is considered the continuation of the South Fork Skykomish River above the Foss River confluence. However, the true source of the South Fork Skykomish, in terms of streamflow is not the Tye River but the Rapid River, a tributary of the Beckler River, which in turn is a tributary of the South Fork Skykomish.
The Tye River is named for W.H. Tye (or William Francis Tye), a surveyor for the Great Northern Railway who laid out the rail grade to Stevens Pass.
The Tye River originates on the west side of the crest of the North Cascades at Stevens Pass. It flows west, then southwest, collecting numerous small tributary streams. At 9.2 mi (14.8 km) upstream from the Tye's mouth, near the Cascade Tunnel's western portal, Tunnel Creek joins the river. U.S. Route 2 makes a hairpin turn in the valley of Tunnel Creek. The Tye River then turns more directly west. It collects Surprise Creek and its tributary Scenic Creek near Scenic. Deception Creek joins near Deception Falls, 6.2 mi (10.0 km) above the mouth of the Tye. Scenic, Surprise, and Deception creeks all join from the south. Below Deception Creek the Tye River is joined by Martin Creek from the north. Then, 4.5 mi (7.2 km) upstream from its mouth, the Tye falls over Alpine Falls. Below the waterfall the Tye River is joined by Carroll Creek and Alpine Creek from the south. The BPA powerline crosses the Tye River 3.2 mi (5.1 km) above the river's mouth. A couple miles east of Skykomish the Foss River, flowing from the south, joins the Tye River, forming the South Fork Skykomish River.
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