South Fork Roaring River

Last updated
South Fork Roaring River
Country United States
State Oregon
County Clackamas County
SourceRock Lakes
 - location Mount Hood National Forest, Cascade Range
 - elevation4,373 ft (1,333 m) [1]
 - coordinates 45°08′50″N121°58′52″W / 45.14722°N 121.98111°W / 45.14722; -121.98111   [2]
Mouth Roaring River
 - elevation1,732 ft (528 m) [2]
 - coordinates 45°11′01″N122°03′08″W / 45.18361°N 122.05222°W / 45.18361; -122.05222 Coordinates: 45°11′01″N122°03′08″W / 45.18361°N 122.05222°W / 45.18361; -122.05222   [2]
Length4.6 mi (7.4 km) [3]
USA Oregon location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the mouth of the South Fork Roaring River in Oregon
TypeWild
DesignatedMarch 30, 2009

The South Fork Roaring River is a 4.6-mile (7.4 km) tributary of the Roaring River in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. [3] Beginning at Rock Lakes in the Mount Hood National Forest in the Cascade Range, it flows generally northwest along the base of Indian Ridge to meet the main stem. [4] The South Fork has no named tributaries. [4]

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.

Mount Hood National Forest United States national forest in Oregon

The Mount Hood National Forest is 62 miles (100 km) east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than 60 miles (97 km) of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes of Mount Jefferson. The Forest includes and is named after Mount Hood, a stratovolcano. The Forest encompasses some 1,067,043 acres (4,318.17 km2). Forest headquarters are located in Sandy, Oregon. A 1993 Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the Forest was 345,300 acres (139,700 ha). The Forest is divided into four separate districts - Barlow, Clackamas River (Estacada), Hood River, and Zigzag (Zigzag).

In 2009, the entire river was added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Designated "wild", its watershed includes old-growth forest, a deeply incised canyon, and many cascades, and provides prime habitat for northern spotted owls. [3]

National Wild and Scenic Rivers System geographical object

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Actof 1968, enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Old-growth forest A forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance

An old-growth forest — also termed primary forest, virgin forest, primeval forest, late seral forest, or forest primeval — is a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance and thereby exhibits unique ecological features and might be classified as a climax community. Old-growth features include diverse tree-related structures that provide diverse wildlife habitat that increases the biodiversity of the forested ecosystem. The concept of diverse tree structure includes multi-layered canopies and canopy gaps, greatly varying tree heights and diameters, and diverse tree species and classes and sizes of woody debris.

Northern spotted owl an owl specie in the family Strigidae, genus Strix

The northern spotted owl is one of three spotted owl subspecies. A western North American bird in the family Strigidae, genus Strix, it is a medium-sized dark brown owl sixteen to nineteen inches in length and one to one and one sixth pounds. Females are larger than males. The wingspan is approximately 42 inches.

The watershed is part of the Roaring River Wilderness, [3] a 36,500-acre (14,800 ha) federally protected area also established in 2009. The area is off-limits to commercial logging and mechanized recreation though still open to fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, and many other activities. [5]

Roaring River Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Mount Hood National Forest in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Southwest of Mount Hood, Oregon's tallest mountain, the 36,500-acre (14,800 ha) area was created in 2009. The wilderness area is named after the Roaring River that flows through the area and is a tributary of the Clackamas River.

See also

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References

  1. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  2. 1 2 3 "South Fork Roaring River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Roaring River (South Fork), Oregon". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 9, 2015 via ACME Mapper.
  5. Preusch, Matthew (April 6, 2009). "No Cars, No Roads, No Kidding". The Oregonian . Retrieved December 9, 2015 via Oregon Live.