North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River

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North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River
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Location of the mouth of the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River in Oregon
Location
Country United States
State Oregon
County Lane
Physical characteristics
Source Waldo Lake
  location Cascade Range
  coordinates 43°46′1″N122°3′11″W / 43.76694°N 122.05306°W / 43.76694; -122.05306 [1]
Mouth Middle Fork Willamette River
  coordinates
43°45′30″N122°31′27″W / 43.75833°N 122.52417°W / 43.75833; -122.52417 Coordinates: 43°45′30″N122°31′27″W / 43.75833°N 122.52417°W / 43.75833; -122.52417 [1]
  elevation
1,033 ft (315 m) [1]
TypeWild, Scenic, Recreational
DesignatedOctober 28, 1988

The North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River as it is officially named [1] but frequently called North Fork of the Willamette River or North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River has its headwaters at Waldo Lake and flows into the Middle Fork Willamette River northwest of Oakridge. In the first 3 miles (5 km) below Waldo Lake, the river drops 2,400 feet (730 m) in 34 separate waterfalls through diverse natural plant life and old growth forest. [2]

Waldo Lake lake in United States of America

Waldo Lake is a natural alpine lake in the Cascade Mountains of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the second largest natural non-alkali lake in Oregon with just under 10 square miles (26 km2) of water surface and a maximum depth of 420 feet (130 m). The lake is named after Oregon politician, judge, and conservationist John B. Waldo.

Middle Fork Willamette River river in the United States of America

The Middle Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River in the western part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is approximately 115 miles (185 km) long, draining an area of the Cascade Range southeast of Eugene, which is at the southern end of the Willamette Valley.

Oakridge, Oregon City in Oregon, United States

Oakridge is a town in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,205 as of the 2010 census. It is located east of Westfir on Oregon Route 58, about 40 miles (64 km) east of Eugene and 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Portland. Surrounded by the Willamette National Forest and the Cascade Range, Oakridge is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its hiking, mountain biking, wildflowers, fly fishing, birding, watersports, and the nearby Willamette Pass Resort.

Contents

The river has Oregon's longest covered bridge crossing it at Westfir, the Office Bridge. [3] Portions of the river were designated wild and scenic in 1988. [4] [5] The portion from Waldo Lake to 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream from Westfir is designated scenic by the State of Oregon [6] and is known for its native trout by fly fishermen. [2]

Covered bridge wooden bridge with protective cover

A covered bridge is a timber-truss bridge with a roof, decking, and siding, which in most covered bridges create an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. Uncovered wooden bridges typically have a lifespan of only 20 years because of the effects of rain and sun, but a covered bridge could last 100 years.

Westfir, Oregon City in Oregon, United States

Westfir is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 253 at the 2010 census. It is located about 35 miles (56 km) east of Eugene and about 4 miles (6 km) west of Oakridge in the Willamette National Forest.

Office Bridge United States historic place

The Office Bridge is a covered bridge in Westfir, Lane County, Oregon, U.S. crossing the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River at the south end of the Aufderheide National Scenic Byway and edge of the Willamette National Forest. It is Oregon's longest covered bridge at 180 ft, and is one of only two in the state using triple Howe truss construction. It is the only covered bridge west of the Mississippi River which has a separate pedestrian walkway.

The river above Westfir is rated as class 3-4 (5) whitewater. Recommended flow range is 500 to 3,000 cubic feet per second (14 to 85 m3/s). [7]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River
  2. 1 2 "Area Attractions". Oakridge Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  3. "North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River (Office) Covered Bridge". Oregon Covered Bridges. Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  4. Willamette National Forest. 1995. Watershed Analysis: North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River. Oakridge Ranger District, Oakridge, OR.
  5. Nancy Graybeal, Deputy Regional Forester (December 4, 2000). "Boundary Establishment for North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette National Wild and Scenic River, Willamette National Forest, Lane County, OR". United States Environmental Protection Agency . Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  6. "Removal-Fill in State Scenic Waterways". Oregon.gov. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  7. "The Gorge to Westfir on the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River". WetDawg.com. Retrieved 2007-06-07.