Salmon River (Lincoln County, Oregon)

For other places with the same name, see Salmon River (disambiguation).
Salmon River
Near mouth on the Pacific Ocean
Salmon River (Lincoln County, Oregon) is located in Oregon
Salmon River (Lincoln County, Oregon)
Location of the mouth of the Salmon River in Oregon
Etymologysalmon, the fish[2]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLincoln, Tillamook, and Polk
Physical characteristics
SourceSaddlebag Mountain
 • locationCentral Oregon Coast Range, Lincoln County
 • coordinates44°59′42″N 123°46′35″W / 44.99500°N 123.77639°W / 44.99500; -123.77639[1]
 • elevation3,050 ft (930 m)[3]
MouthPacific Ocean
 • location
near Cascade Head
 • coordinates
45°02′48″N 124°00′22″W / 45.04667°N 124.00611°W / 45.04667; -124.00611[1]
 • elevation
0 ft (0 m)[1]
Length24 mi (39 km)[4]
Basin size75 sq mi (190 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • average339 cu ft/s (9.6 m3/s)[6]

The Salmon River flows from the Central Oregon Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean coast of northwest Oregon in the United States.[1] About 24 miles (39 km) long,[4] it begins and ends in Lincoln County but also flows briefly through western Polk and southern Tillamook counties. Much of its course lies within the Siuslaw National Forest.[7]

Rising in the mountains near the Lincoln–Polk county line, it flows east into Polk County, then north and west, re-entering Lincoln County, entering Tillamook County and re-entering Lincoln County near Oregon Route 18. It continues generally west-southwestward through the Siuslaw National Forest, turning west again to enter the Pacific near Cascade Head, about 4 miles (6 km) north of Lincoln City.[7]

Following the river through the mountains, Route 18 connects to Sheridan, McMinnville and the South Yamhill River valley to the east and U.S. Route 101 to the west. The river and highway pass through the Van Duzer Forest Corridor State Wayside.[7] The river supports populations of wild steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout, as well as chinook and coho salmon released each year from a hatchery at Otis.[4]

Tributaries

Named tributaries from source to mouth are the Little Salmon River, which enters from the right; Boulder Creek, left; Indian, Prairie, and Sulphur creeks, right; Deer Creek, left; Treat River, left; Alder Brook, right; Widow Creek, right.[8]

Then Slick Rock and Bear creeks, left; Panther Creek, right; Willis Creek, left; Deer and Salmon creeks, right; Frazer and Rowdy creeks, left, and Crowley and Teal creeks, right.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Salmon River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  2. ^ McArthur, pp. 842–43
  3. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. ^ a b c Sheehan, pp. 32–33
  5. ^ "The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds" (PDF). Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. 2009. p. 2. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  6. ^ Palmer, Tim (2014). Field Guide to Oregon Rivers. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-0-87071-627-0.
  7. ^ a b c Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (2008 ed.). DeLorme Mapping. § 52, 58. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
  8. ^ a b "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 9, 2015 – via ACME Mapper.

Works cited

  • McArthur, Lewis A., and McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names, 7th ed. Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  • Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide, 10th ed. Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.