Winchuck River

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Winchuck River
Winchuck River.jpg
The Winchuck River
Name origin:Uncertain. Possibly the Chinook Jargon term for windy water. Possibly the local native name for woman. [1]
Country United States
State Oregon
County Curry County, Oregon
and Del Norte County, California
Sourceconfluence of Bear and Salmon creeks
 - locationCurry County, Siskiyou National Forest , Oregon
 - elevation164 ft (50 m) [2]
 - coordinates 42°01′09″N124°06′20″W / 42.01917°N 124.10556°W / 42.01917; -124.10556   [3]
Mouth Pacific Ocean
 - location Crissey Field State Recreation Site, Curry County, Oregon
 - elevation7 ft (2 m) [3]
 - coordinates 42°00′18″N124°12′55″W / 42.00500°N 124.21528°W / 42.00500; -124.21528 Coordinates: 42°00′18″N124°12′55″W / 42.00500°N 124.21528°W / 42.00500; -124.21528   [3]
Length10 mi (16 km) [4]
Basin71.3 sq mi (185 km2) [5]
Discharge
 - average494 cu ft/s (14 m3/s) [4]
USA Oregon location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the mouth of the Winchuck River in Oregon

The Winchuck River (Tolowa: duu-sr-xuu-shi taa-ghin-li~' [6] ) is a short coastal stream that runs through the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest to the Pacific Ocean in the U.S. states of Oregon and California. Flowing generally west from its origin near Elk Mountain, the river enters the sea at Crissey Field State Recreation Site, [7] about 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) north of the Oregon–California border and about 5 miles (8 km) south of Brookings. [8]

The Tolowa language is a member of the Pacific Coast subgroup of the Athabaskan language family. Together with three other closely related languages it forms a distinctive Oregon Athabaskan cluster within the subgroup.

Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest United States national forest in Oregon

The Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest is a United States National Forest in the U.S. states of Oregon and California. The formerly separate Rogue River and Siskiyou National Forests were administratively combined in 2004. Now, the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest ranges from the crest of the Cascade Range west into the Siskiyou Mountains, covering almost 1.8 million acres (7,300 km2). Forest headquarters are located in Medford, Oregon.

Pacific Ocean Ocean between Asia and Australia in the west, the Americas in the east and Antarctica or the Southern Ocean in the south.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south and is bounded by Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east.

Contents

Formed by the confluence of Fourth of July Creek and Bear Creek in southern Curry County, the river flows generally west. Just below the source, Salmon Creek enters from the left, then Elk Creek and Deer Creek enter from the right. Further downstream, the Winchuck receives Moser Creek and the South Fork Winchuck River, both from the left. The river then leaves Oregon, flowing in Del Norte County, California, for a short distance before re-entering Oregon. The Winchuck passes under U.S. Route 101 in Oregon just before reaching the ocean. Winchuck River Road runs along or near the north side of the river for much of its course. [9]

Curry County, Oregon County in the United States

Curry County is a county in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,364. The county seat is Gold Beach. The county is named for George Law Curry, a governor of the Oregon Territory.

Del Norte County, California County in California ----

Del Norte County is a county at the far northwest corner of the U.S. state of California, along the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Oregon border. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,610. The county seat and only incorporated city is Crescent City. Del Norte was pioneered and settled by Azorean Portuguese explorers and dairy farmers, which may account for the local pronunciation of the county name. Residents pronounce the county name as Del Nort, not Del Nor-teh as would be expected in Spanish.

U.S. Route 101 in Oregon highway in Oregon

U.S. Route 101 (US 101), is a major north–south U.S. Highway in Oregon that runs through the state along the coastline near the Pacific Ocean. It runs from the California border, south of Brookings, to the Washington state line on the Columbia River, between Astoria, Oregon, and Megler, Washington.

The main stem and tributaries support chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, and sea-run coastal cutthroat trout. [10] Access for fishing is limited, especially along the lower stretches of the river. Fishing from boats is not allowed, but Winchuck River Road provides public access in places. [11]

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.

Flora in the watershed's forests include Douglas-fir, bigleaf maple, and madrone, typical of the Southern Oregon Coast Range, the coastal Siskiyou Mountains, and the Redwoods Zone. [12] Most of Oregon's remaining coast redwood forest lies within the Winchuck drainage. [10] Sensitive fauna in the watershed include the spotted owl and marbled murrelet. [5]

<i>Acer macrophyllum</i> species of plant

Acer macrophyllum, the bigleaf maple or Oregon maple, is a large deciduous tree in the genus Acer.

<i>Arbutus</i> genus of plants

Arbutus is a genus of 12 accepted species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, the Canary Islands and North America. The name Arbutus was taken from Latin, where it referred to Arbutus unedo.

Southern Oregon Coast Range

The Southern Oregon Coast Range is the southernmost section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, located in the southwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States, roughly between the Umpqua River and the middle fork of the Coquille River, beyond which are the Klamath Mountains. To the east is the Umpqua Valley and to the west the Pacific Ocean. This approximately 55-mile (89 km)-long mountain range contains mountains as high as 3,547 feet (1,081 m) for Bone Mountain. The mountains are known locally in the Roseburg area as the Callahan Mountains, or simply as The Callahans.

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Sycan River river in the United States of America

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Umatilla River tributary of the Columbia River in Oregon

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South Fork Rogue River tributary of the Rogue River in Oregon

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North Fork Malheur River river in the United States of America

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Pistol River river in the United States of America

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Millicoma River river in the United States of America

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West Fork Millicoma River river in the United States of America

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South Fork Coos River river in the United States of America

The South Fork Coos River is a tributary, about 32 miles (51 km) long, of the Coos River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of the Williams River and Tioga Creek, it begins in eastern Coos County near the Douglas County line and flows generally northwest through the Southern Oregon Coast Range. East of the city of Coos Bay, it joins the Millicoma River to form the Coos River. This larger river, only about 5 miles (8 km) long, empties into the eastern end of Coos Bay, which connects to the Pacific Ocean.

South Fork McKenzie River tributary of the McKenzie River in Oregon

The South Fork McKenzie River is a tributary, about 31 miles (50 km) long, of the McKenzie River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at about 4,500 feet (1,400 m) above sea level near Mink Lake in the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Cascade Range. Flowing northwest within Lane County, it meets the McKenzie River about 60 miles (97 km) from the larger river's confluence with the Willamette River.

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.

Middle Fork Coquille River river in the United States of America

The Middle Fork Coquille River is a tributary, about 40 miles (64 km) long, of the South Fork Coquille River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins near Camas Mountain in Douglas County in the Southern Oregon Coast Range. It flows generally south, bypassing the community of Camas Valley while passing through the valley of the same name, then curves west and north to Remote in Coos County. The Middle Fork then flows generally west, passes by the small community of Bridge, and meets the South Fork near Myrtle Point. The confluence with the South Fork is 41 miles (66 km) by water to where the main stem of the Coquille River enters the Pacific Ocean at Bandon.

References

  1. ↑ McArthur, pp. 1049–50
  2. ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. 1 2 3 "Winchuck River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Palmer, Tim (2014). Field Guide to Oregon Rivers. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. pp. 122–23. ISBN   978-0-87071-627-0.
  5. 1 2 "Winchuck River". United States Forest Service. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Siletz Talking Dictionary". Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  7. ↑ Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (1991 ed.). DeLorme Mapping. § 17. ISBN   978-0-89933-347-2.
  8. ↑ McGuire, p. 1
  9. ↑ United States Geological Survey. "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map". TopoQuest. Retrieved April 12, 2011. Relevant map quadrangles from mouth to source are Mount Emily, Smith River, and Fourth of July Creek.
  10. 1 2 "East Fork Winchuck River, Curry County". Western Rivers Conservancy. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  11. ↑ Sheehan, p. 114
  12. ↑ McGuire, pp. 13–20

Works cited

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