The Wild Rogue watershed includes a number of streams, from short, seasonal creeks, to larger perennial streams.  The steepness and incision of the Rogue canyon contributes to the many waterfalls on several of the smaller creeks. The tributary stream systems provide water that is much colder than the Rogue River and are vitally important for native fish that find refuge from the main stem’s warmer waters for the return to their natal streams to spawn.  These areas, known as thermal refugia, are particularly important for anadromous fish that arrive when river flows are lowest and water temperatures are high. This is especially true for particularly summer steelhead.