South Fork Alsea River

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South Fork Alsea River
Name origin:Alsi, said to be a corruption of Alsea for native people who lived near the mouth of the river [1]
Country United States
State Oregon
County Lane and Benton
Source Central Oregon Coast Range
 - locationnortheast of Horton, Lane County
 - elevation1,721 ft (525 m) [2]
 - coordinates 44°14′49″N123°25′44″W / 44.24694°N 123.42889°W / 44.24694; -123.42889   [3]
Mouth Alsea River
 - locationnear Alsea, Benton County
 - elevation282 ft (86 m) [3]
 - coordinates 44°22′34″N123°36′09″W / 44.37611°N 123.60250°W / 44.37611; -123.60250 Coordinates: 44°22′34″N123°36′09″W / 44.37611°N 123.60250°W / 44.37611; -123.60250   [3]
USA Oregon location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the mouth of South Fork Alsea River in Oregon

The South Fork Alsea River is a tributary of the Alsea River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at northeast of Horton on the east side of the Central Oregon Coast Range and flows generally northwest to near Alsea. There it joins the North Fork Alsea River to form the main stem. [4]

Alsea River river in the United States of America

The Alsea River flows 48.5 miles (78.1 km) from Alsea, an unincorporated community in the coastal mountains of the U.S. state of Oregon, to the Pacific Ocean near the city of Waldport. It begins at the confluence of the North Fork Alsea River and the South Fork Alsea River and ends in Alsea Bay, a wide estuary at Waldport. The river flows generally west-northwest in a winding course through the mountains of southern Benton and Lincoln counties, passing near the unincorporated community of Tidewater and through the Siuslaw National Forest. Its drainage basin extends into Lane County, along the headwaters of the South Fork Alsea River.

U.S. state constituent political entity sharing sovereignty as the United States of America

In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are currently 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory and shares its sovereignty with the federal government. Due to this shared sovereignty, Americans are citizens both of the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. State citizenship and residency are flexible, and no government approval is required to move between states, except for persons restricted by certain types of court orders. Four states use the term commonwealth rather than state in their full official names.

Oregon State of the United States of America

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. The parallel 42° north delineates the southern boundary with California and Nevada. Oregon is one of only three states of the contiguous United States to have a coastline on the Pacific Ocean.

Contents

Fishing in Oregon describes the South Fork as "fair-sized" stream with an average width of 40 feet (12 m). Fishing for wild cutthroat trout is "excellent", and the stream also supports a population of steelhead. [5] The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees much of the territory through which the river flows. [5]

Cutthroat trout species of fish

The cutthroat trout(Oncorhynchus clarkii) is a fish species of the family Salmonidae native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean, Rocky Mountains, and Great Basin in North America. As a member of the genus Oncorhynchus, it is one of the Pacific trout, a group that includes the widely distributed rainbow trout. Cutthroat trout are popular gamefish, especially among anglers who enjoy fly fishing. The common name "cutthroat" refers to the distinctive red coloration on the underside of the lower jaw. The specific name clarkii was given to honor explorer William Clark, coleader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Rainbow trout species of trout

The rainbow trout is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coastal rainbow trout(O. m. irideus) or Columbia River redband trout (O. m. gairdneri) that usually returns to fresh water to spawn after living two to three years in the ocean. Freshwater forms that have been introduced into the Great Lakes and migrate into tributaries to spawn are also called steelhead.

Bureau of Land Management agency within the United States Department of the Interior

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior that administers more than 247.3 million acres (1,001,000 km2) of public lands in the United States which constitutes one-eighth of the landmass of the country. President Harry S. Truman created the BLM in 1946 by combining two existing agencies: the General Land Office and the Grazing Service. The agency manages the federal government's nearly 700 million acres (2,800,000 km2) of subsurface mineral estate located beneath federal, state and private lands severed from their surface rights by the Homestead Act of 1862. Most BLM public lands are located in these 12 western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Alsea Falls Recreation Area, managed by the BLM, is along the river. Open from May 1 through October 31, it has campsites and day-use sites with tent pads, fire rings, picnic tables, toilets, and drinking water. Hiking trails from the recreation area through the forest lead to several waterfalls. The nearby Fall Creek Trail system for mountain bikes has 6.5 miles (10.5 km) of forested routes for all skill levels. [6]

Alsea Falls

Alsea Falls, is a waterfall located in the heart of the Central Oregon Coast Range, just west of Monroe, in Benton County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It totals 30 feet fall in one gradual cascade and is the centerpiece attraction of the Alsea Falls trailhead and Recreation Site.

Tributaries

Listed from source to mouth, the named tributaries are Williams, Coleman, and Fall creeks, which enter from the left; Peak Creek, right; Blackberry and Rock creeks, left; Dubuque Creek, right; Table Creek, left; Cedar and Headrick creeks, right, and Bummer Creek, left. [4]

See also

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West Fork Millicoma River river in the United States of America

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Little North Santiam River river in the United States of America

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North Fork Alsea River river in the United States of America

The North Fork Alsea River is a 16-mile (26 km) tributary of the Alsea River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at Klickitat Lake, fed by Klickitat and Lake creeks in the Central Oregon Coast Range, and flows generally south to near Alsea, where it joins the South Fork Alsea River to form the main stem. For most of its course, the North Fork winds through the Siuslaw National Forest in Lincoln County and then Benton County. It passes under Oregon Route 34 northeast of Alsea.

North Fork Owyhee River river in the United States of America

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North Fork Siuslaw River river in the United States of America

The North Fork Siuslaw River is a tributary of the Siuslaw River in Lane County in the United States state of Oregon. It is formed by the confluence of Sam Creek and West Branch in the Siuslaw National Forest of the Central Oregon Coast Range. The former community of Pawn was once at the juncture of the two creeks. From here, the river flows about 2 miles (3 km) southeast, then about 25 miles (40 km) southwest to meet the main stem 1.2 miles (1.9 km) east of Florence.

South Fork Burnt River river in the United States of America

The South Fork Burnt River is a tributary of the Burnt River in Baker County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its headwaters lie in the Monument Rock Wilderness and the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest of the Blue Mountains. It flows generally northeast for about to meet the main stem at Unity Reservoir, north of Unity. The river, about 12 miles (19 km) long, crosses under U.S. Route 26 about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Unity.

North Fork Umatilla River river in the United States of America

The North Fork Umatilla River is a tributary of the Umatilla River in Union and Umatilla counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its headwaters lie in the Umatilla National Forest in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. It flows generally northwest to meet the South Fork Umatilla River near Graves Butte. Together the two forks form the main stem Umatilla.

Myrtle Creek (South Umpqua River tributary) river in the United States of America

Myrtle Creek is a short tributary of the South Umpqua River in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its main stem, formed by the confluence of two forks just south of the city of Myrtle Creek, is only about 1 mile (1.6 km) long. Its only named tributaries are the two forks, North Myrtle Creek and South Myrtle Creek, each of which is much longer than the main stem.

Cavitt Creek river in the United States of America

Cavitt Creek is a tributary of the Little River in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. From its source near Red Butte, the creek flows generally west then north through the Umpqua National Forest of the Cascade Range before entering the river about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) upstream of the rural community of Peel and 7 miles (11 km) above the Little River's mouth on the North Umpqua River.

References

  1. ↑ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 19–20. ISBN   0-87595-277-1.
  2. ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. 1 2 3 "South Fork Alsea River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "United States Topographic Map" . Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Sheehan, Madelynne Diness. Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 7. ISBN   0-916473-15-5.
  6. ↑ "Alsea Falls Recreation Area". Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
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