Chena River

The Chena River is a 100mi tributary of the Tanana River in the Interior region of the U.S. state of Alaska. It flows generally west from the White Mountains to the Tanana River near the city of Fairbanks, which is built on both sides of the river. The Tanana empties into the 2300mi long Yukon River.Named tributaries of the Chena River include the North Fork, South Fork, West Fork, Middle Fork and the Little Chena River. The Chena River State Recreation Area surrounds much of the upper half of the main stem. The Chena River is used for recreational fishing and boating. During the winter months, it is also traveled by snowmachines and mushers .The Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project dam is about 40mi up the Chena River from Fairbanks. The dam was built in response to the 1967 Fairbanks flood, which inundated much of the city. When closed, the dam impounds water and, when the inflow is high enough, diverts it about 8mi to the Tanana River near North Pole, upstream of Fairbanks and the natural mouth of the Chena.