Butte Creek, a tributary of the John Day River, flows through the city.

It was located on Butte Creek downstream of Helltown.

The county is drained by the Feather River and Butte Creek.

It is fed by numerous tributaries, most notably Butte Creek, as well as several others that are not named.

The spring run in Butte Creek is doing exceptionally well.

The riparian or streamside plant areas along Butte Creek are the most vulnerable to invasive non-native plants.

Cretaceous fossils were reported to be found from Butte Creek below Diamondville.

Butte Creek comes in from the south.

Signs downstream along Butte Creek warn that the water level can rise suddenly without warning.

Water from Big Butte Creek also is diverted for irrigation at several other locations.