Alsea River

Geobox | River
name = Alsea River
category = River


image_size =
image_caption =
etymology = Alsea tribe of Native Americanscite book | last = Bright | first = William | title = Native American Placenames of the United States | publisher = University of Oklahoma Press | date = 2004 | location = Norman, Oklahoma | pages = 34 | isbn = 9780806135984]
country = United States
country_

state = Oregon
district_type = County
district = Benton County, Lincoln County
source =
source_location =
source_region = Lane County
source_state = Oregon
source_elevation_imperial = 278
source_elevation_note = Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.]
source_length_imperial =
source_lat_d = 44
source_lat_m = 22
source_lat_s = 34
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 123
source_long_m = 36
source_long_s = 09
source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note =
mouth_name = Alsea Bay, Pacific Ocean
mouth_location = Waldport
mouth_district =
mouth_region = Lincoln County
mouth_state = Oregon
mouth_country =
mouth_note =
mouth_lat_d = 44
mouth_lat_m = 25
mouth_lat_s = 21
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 124
mouth_long_m = 04
mouth_long_s = 51
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note =
mouth_elevation_imperial = 0
mouth_elevation_note = cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)| publisher = United States Geological Survey (USGS) | date = November 28, 1980 | url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1137172 | title = Alsea River | accessdaymonth = July 31, | accessyear = 2008]
length_imperial = 43.5
length_round = 0
length_note =
watershed_imperial = 466
watershed_round = 0
watershed_note = cite web | title = Alsea River | publisher = MidCoast Watersheds Council | date = 2006 | url = http://www.midcoastwatershedscouncil.org/About/bpt_aw.htm | accessdaymonth = August 3, | accessyear = 2008 ]
discharge_location = near Tidewater, Oregon, convert|21|mi|km| from mouth
discharge_round = 0
discharge_imperial = 1469
discharge_note = cite web | title = USGS 14306500 Alsea River near Tidewater, OR | publisher = United States Geological Survey (USGS) | date = 2008 | url = http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=14306500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00062,72020 | accessdaymonth = August 3, |accessyear = 2008 ] The average discharge rate was calculated by adding the average annual discharge rates for the 67 calendar years 1940–2006 and dividing by 67.]
discharge_min_imperial = 45
discharge_max_imperial = 41800
discharge1_location =
discharge1_imperial =
discharge1_note =


map_size =
map_caption =
map1 = Oregon Locator Map.png map1_size = 300
map1_caption = Location of the mouth of the Alsea River in Oregon
map1_locator = Oregon
commons =

The Alsea River flows convert|48.5|mi|km| from Alsea, an unincorporated community in the coastal mountains of the U.S. state of Oregon, to the Pacific Ocean near the city of Waldport. It begins at the confluence of the North Fork Alsea River and the South Fork Alsea River and ends in Alsea Bay, a wide estuary at Waldport.cite web | title = Online Topographic Maps from the United States Geological Survey | publisher = TopoQuest | url = http://www.topoquest.com/ | accessdaymonth = August 27, | accessyear = 2008 ] The river flows generally west-northwest in a winding course through the mountains of southern Benton and Lincoln counties, passing near the unincorporated community of Tidewater and through the Siuslaw National Forest. Its drainage basin extends into Lane County, along the headwaters of the South Fork Alsea River.

The Alsea River supports runs of Chinook and coho salmon, as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout. The Alsea River Fish Hatchery is located on one of its tributaries, the North Fork Alsea River. It is a popular fishing stream with local residents.

Course

The Alsea River begins in the Central Oregon Coast Range near the unincorporated community of Alsea, and flows generally west about convert|48.5|mi|km to the Pacific Ocean at Waldport, on the west coast of the United States. Formed by the confluence of the South Fork Alsea River and the North Fork Alsea River, the stream meanders through the Siuslaw National Forest for all but the last convert|6|mi|km of its course. Oregon Route 34 follows the river closely, crossing it once about convert|8|mi|km from the mouth.

During its first convert|1|mi|km or so, the river receives Cathcart Creek, Roberts Creek, and Mill Creek, all from the right, and passes Mill Creek Boat Landing on the right. Oregon Route 34 parallels the river on the north; that is, on the right facing downstream. Here the river begins a long, roughly U-shaped loop around the south end of Digger Mountain, which rises to convert|1220|ft|m above sea level at coordinates coord|44.3573430|-123.7048297.cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = November 28, 1980 | url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1141026 | title = Digger Mountain | accessdaymonth = August 30, | accessyear = 2008] Along this stretch, which is about convert|9|mi|km long, the river passes under Hayden Covered Bridge; receives Schoolhouse Creek from the right, Birch Creek from the left, and Narrows Creek and Maltby Creek from the right, passes Campbell Boat Landing on the right and Salmonberry Boat Landing on the left, goes under Salmonberry Road, receives Salmonberry Creek from the left, passes Missouri Bend Recreation Site and Boat Ramp on the left, and receives Benner Creek from the left and Digger Creek from the right. Slightly west of the mountain, about convert|33.5|mi|km from the mouth, the river leaves Benton County, and enters Lincoln County.

Passing Little Digger Mountain on the right, the river receives Fall Creek from the right, Cow Creek and Minotti Creek from the left, and Wolf Creek, Phillips Creek, Cedar Creek, and Butter Creek from the right as it passes Trenholm Saddle, a mountain gap at coordinates coord|44.3876206|-123.7523311cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = November 28, 1980 | url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1151412 | title = Trenholm Saddle | accessdaymonth = August 30, | accessyear = 2008] on the right about convert|31|mi|km from the mouth. About convert|2|mi|km later, the river begins another U-shaped loop of about convert|9|mi|km around the south end of Stoney Mountain, which rises to convert|1020|ft|m above sea level.cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = November 28, 1980 | url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1150450 | title = Stoney Mountain | accessdaymonth = August 30, | accessyear = 2008] Flowing around Stoney Mountain, the Alsea River receives Bear Creek and Lake Creek from the left, passes Blackberry Campground on the left, receives Grass Creek and Brush Creek from the left and Schoolhouse Creek from the right, passes Mike Bauer Picnic Grounds on the right and, shortly thereafter, a USGS gauging station on the right convert|21|mi|km from the mouth. About convert|1|mi|km further downstream, the river passes Slide Campground on the right before entering Hellion Rapids at coordinates coord|44.3923427|-123.8334448.cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = November 28, 1980 | url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1143463 | title = Hellion Rapids | accessdaymonth = August 30, | accessyear = 2008] Downstream of the rapids, the river receives Scott Creek, Slide Creek, and Hatchery Creek, all from the right, and Line Creek from the left before reaching the unincorporated community of Tidewater, about convert|12|mi|km from the mouth.

Between Tidewater and Alsea Bay, the river receives Mill Creek and Squaw Creek from the right, Canal Creek from the left, Risley Creek from the right, passes under Oregon Route 34, which then parallels the river on the south or left, and receives Arnold Creek from the left at about convert|8|mi|km from the mouth. About convert|2|mi|km later, it leaves the Siuslaw National Forest. Shortly thereafter, it receives Constantine Creek from the left and Drift Creek from the right. It receives Eckman Creek from the left, passes W.B. Nelson State Recreation Site on the left about convert|3|mi|km from the mouth and enters Alsea Bay. As part of the bay, it receives Lint Creek from the left, passes Waldport on the left, flows under U.S. Route 101, and enters the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the bay.

ee also

*List of Oregon rivers

Notes and references