Elkhorn Creek (Marion County, Oregon)

Elkhorn Creek
Along the creek in Marion County
Map
Location
CountryUnited States
LocationMarion County, Oregon
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationWillamette National Forest, north of Big Cliff Reservoir
 • coordinates44°47′17″N 122°16′18″W / 44.788178°N 122.271745°W / 44.788178; -122.271745[1]
 • elevation3,711 feet (1,131 m)[4]
Mouth 
 • location
Little North Santiam River
 • coordinates
44°49′05″N 122°23′31″W / 44.818178°N 122.392026°W / 44.818178; -122.392026[1]
 • elevation
1,070 feet (330 m)[1]
Length7.6 mi (12.2 km)[3]
Basin features
ProgressionMostly west[2]
Tributaries 
 • leftBig Twelve Creek, Buckhorn Creek, Buck Creek[5]
TypeWild, Scenic
DesignatedSeptember 30, 1996

Elkhorn Creek is a 7.6-mile (12 km) long[3] stream in Marion County, Oregon, United States. Its source is on the northern edge of the Willamette National Forest, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Big Cliff Reservoir. The creek flows mostly west, receiving Big Twelve Creek, Buckhorn Creek, and Buck Creek all from the south, and it enters the Little North Santiam River just south of Elkhorn Woods Park, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city of Gates.[1][2][5] The stream's valley is surrounded by the western Cascade foothills, covered with coniferous trees characteristic of the Pacific Northwest, and lined with red alders at the water's edge. The creek supports runs of rainbow and coastal cutthroat trout, as well as Pacific giant salamanders. On September 30, 1996, a 6.4-mile (10.3 km) portion of the stream, from the mouth nearly to the source, was protected as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.[6]

In 2011 and 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) performed a restoration project to improve habitat for chinook salmon and rainbow trout to spawn. The BLM placed logs in the lower section of Elkhorn Creek to slow its flow, and planted trees beside the creek to shade and cool the water and to provide future sources of wood for naturally fallen logs to repeat the process.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Elkhorn Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b USGS Topo Maps for United States (Map). Cartography by U.S. Geological Survey. ACME Mapper. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "National Hydrography Dataset". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  4. ^ Source elevation derived from GNIS coordinates using Google Earth
  5. ^ a b Elkhorn Quadrangle - Oregon (Map). 1 : 24,000. 7,5 Minute Series (Topographic). U.S. Geological Survey. 2011.
  6. ^ "Elkhorn Creek, Oregon". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  7. ^ "Little North Santiam River and Elkhorn Creek Habitat Restoration" (PDF). BLM, Salem District. June 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2013.