South Santiam River

South Santiam River
Fly fishing on the South Santiam River just downstream of Sweet Home
South Santiam River is located in Oregon
South Santiam River
Location of the mouth of the South Santiam River in Oregon
EtymologyKalapuya tribe that lived near the river until removal to the Grande Ronde Reservation[2]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLinn
Physical characteristics
SourceJumpoff Joe Mountain
 • locationCascade Range, Willamette National Forest, Linn County, Oregon
 • coordinates44°22′27″N 122°13′05″W / 44.37417°N 122.21806°W / 44.37417; -122.21806[1]
 • elevation1,932 ft (589 m)[3]
MouthSantiam River
 • location
Willamette Valley, Linn County, Oregon
 • coordinates
44°41′12″N 123°00′24″W / 44.68667°N 123.00667°W / 44.68667; -123.00667[1]
 • elevation
217 ft (66 m)[1]
Length69 mi (111 km)[4]
Basin size1,040 sq mi (2,700 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • locationWaterloo, 23.3 miles (37.5 km) above the mouth
 • average2,946 cu ft/s (83.4 m3/s)
 • minimum67 cu ft/s (1.9 m3/s)
 • maximum95,200 cu ft/s (2,700 m3/s)

The South Santiam River is a tributary of the Santiam River, about 69 miles (111 km) long, in western Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of the Cascade Range into the Willamette Valley east of Corvallis.[4]

It rises in the Cascades in southeastern Linn County in the Willamette National Forest at 44°22′27″N 122°13′05″W / 44.374291°N 122.218128°W / 44.374291; -122.218128 (South Santiam River source).[1] From this source, the confluence of Sevenmile and Latiwi creeks, it flows briefly north, then generally west through the Western Cascades and Cascadia. It then flows a handful of miles before entering Foster Reservoir. At Foster Reservoir the Middle Santiam River joins the South Santiam. Downstream from the reservoir it flows west past Sweet Home, where it turns northwest, passing through the foothills into the Willamette Valley near Lebanon. It joins the North Santiam River from the southeast to form the Santiam approximately 15 mi (24 km) northeast of Lebanon, about 10 miles (16 km) east of the confluence of the Santiam with the Willamette River.[4]

U.S. Route 20 follows the valley of the river from near its headwaters in the mountains to the Willamette Valley northwest of Lebanon.[4]

Tributaries

Named tributaries from source to mouth are Sevenmile and Latiwi creeks at the headwaters, then Three, Sheep, Elk, Soda Fork, Stewart, and Keith creeks. Then come Boulder, Little Boulder, Trout, Falls, Moose, Canyon, and Wolfe creeks. Further downstream are Dobbin, Soda, Cabin, Bucksnort, Mouse, and Deer creeks.[4]

Below those are Shot Pouch Creek and the Middle Santiam River. Then come Ralston, Gadney, Wiley, Ames, Roaring, McDowell, Hamilton, and Onehorse creeks followed by Spring Branch. Entering the lower reaches of the river are Crabtree, Thomas, and Mill creeks, and the North Santiam River.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "South Santiam River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  2. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003). Oregon Geographic Names (Seventh ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 848. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  3. ^ Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates
  4. ^ a b c d e f "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 1, 2015 – via ACME Mapper. The map quadrants include river mile (RM) markers for the river's entire length.
  5. ^ "Watershed Issues". South Santiam Watershed Council. Retrieved July 25, 2009.

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