West Fork Smith River

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West Fork Smith River
Name origin: Jedediah Smith, early 19th century explorer [1]
Country United States
State Oregon
County Douglas
Source Central Oregon Coast Range
 - locationnear Roman Nose Mountain, Siuslaw National Forest
 - elevation2,263 ft (690 m) [2]
 - coordinates 43°55′09″N123°43′19″W / 43.91917°N 123.72194°W / 43.91917; -123.72194   [3]
Mouth Smith River
 - location River mile 35 (river km 56) along the Smith River
 - elevation249 ft (76 m) [3]
 - coordinates 43°48′22″N123°46′00″W / 43.80611°N 123.76667°W / 43.80611; -123.76667 Coordinates: 43°48′22″N123°46′00″W / 43.80611°N 123.76667°W / 43.80611; -123.76667   [3]
Length10 mi (16 km) [4]
USA Oregon location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the mouth of the West Fork Smith River in Oregon

The West Fork Smith River is a tributary, about 10 miles (16 km) long, of the Smith River in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins in the Central Oregon Coast Range near Roman Nose Mountain and flows generally south to meet the larger river 35 miles (56 km) from its confluence with the Umpqua River near Reedsport. The entire course of the river lies within the Siuslaw National Forest. [5]

Douglas County, Oregon County in the United States

Douglas County is a county in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,667. The county seat is Roseburg. It is named after Stephen A. Douglas, an American politician who supported Oregon statehood.

U.S. state constituent political entity of the United States

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

The river supports populations of Chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, cutthroat trout, and lamprey. [6] Fishing in Oregon, a sportfishing guide, describes the river as "a beautiful wild trout stream". [4]

Chinook salmon species of fish

The Chinook salmon is the largest species in the Pacific salmon genus Oncorhynchus. The common name refers to the Chinookan peoples. Other vernacular names for the species include king salmon, Quinnat salmon, spring salmon, chrome hog, and Tyee salmon. The scientific species name is based on the Russian common name chavycha (чавыча).

Coho salmon species of fish

The coho salmon is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family, one of the several species of Pacific salmon. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". The scientific species name is based on the Russian common name kizhuch (кижуч).

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.

Degraded in past decades by logging, splash dams, and in-stream debris removal, the stream has been chosen for restoration. [6] Using grant money from the state, the Partnership for Umpqua Rivers has been placing thousands of boulders in the streambed to improve the spawning, rearing, and refugia habitat for fish. The project involves a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) stretch of the river. [6]

Spawn (biology) process of aquatic animals releasing sperm and eggs into water

Spawn is the eggs and sperm released or deposited into water by aquatic animals. As a verb, to spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, and the act of both sexes is called spawning. Most aquatic animals, except for aquatic mammals and reptiles, reproduce through the process of spawning.

Tributaries

The named tributaries of the West Fork Smith River from source to mouth are Gold, Beaver, Moore, Crane, and Coon creeks. [5]

See also

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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 Smith River (Umpqua River tributary) river in the United States of America

The North Fork Smith River is a 34-mile (55 km) tributary of the Smith River in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins in the Central Oregon Coast Range near Roman Nose Mountain and flows generally southwest to meet the larger river 16 miles (26 km) from its confluence with the Umpqua River at Reedsport. The entire course of the North Fork lies within the Siuslaw National Forest.

References

  1. ↑ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 889–90. ISBN   0-87595-277-1.
  2. ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. 1 2 3 "West Fork Smith River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 96. ISBN   0-916473-15-5.
  5. 1 2 "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 27, 2015– via Acme Mapper. The map includes mile markers along the Smith River.
  6. 1 2 3 "Oregon Fish Works" (PDF). Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
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