Alsea River
Encyclopedia
The Alsea River flows 48.5 miles (78.1 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. 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.
near the unincorporated community of Alsea
, and flows generally west about 48.5 miles (78.1 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 6 miles (9.7 km) of its course. Oregon Route 34 follows the river closely, crossing it once about 8 miles (12.9 km) from the mouth.
During its first 1 miles (1.6 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 1220 feet (371.9 m) above sea level at coordinates 44.3573430°N 123.7048297°W. Along this stretch, which is about 9 miles (14.5 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 33.5 miles (53.9 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 44.3876206°N 123.7523311°W on the right about 31 miles (49.9 km) from the mouth. About 2 miles (3.2 km) later, the river begins another U-shaped loop of about 9 miles (14.5 km) around the south end of Stoney Mountain, which rises to 1020 feet (310.9 m) above sea level.
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 21 miles (33.8 km) from the mouth. About 1 miles (1.6 km) further downstream, the river passes Slide Campground on the right before entering Hellion Rapids at coordinates 44.3923427°N 123.8334448°W. 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 12 miles (19.3 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 8 miles (12.9 km) from the mouth. About 2 miles (3.2 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 3 miles (4.8 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.
Alsea, Oregon
Alsea is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 34 and the Alsea River.As of the 2010 Census, the population was 164....
, an unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in the coastal mountains of the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
near the city of Waldport
Waldport, Oregon
Waldport is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,050 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the Alsea River and Alsea Bay, south of Newport and north of Yachats.-Geography:...
. 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
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
at Waldport. The river flows generally west-northwest in a winding course through the mountains of southern Benton
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
and Lincoln
Lincoln County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge*Siuslaw National Forest -Demographics:...
counties, passing near the unincorporated community of Tidewater
Tidewater, Oregon
Tidewater is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States located on the Alsea River east of Waldport on Oregon Route 34.Tidewater was named because it is near the head of the tide of the Alsea River...
and through the Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest is a national forest in western Oregon, United States. Established in 1908, the Siuslaw is made up of a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from coastal forests to sand dunes.- Geography :...
. Its drainage basin extends into Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, along the headwaters of the South Fork Alsea River.
The Alsea River supports runs of Chinook
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
and coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
. The Alsea River Fish Hatchery is located on one of its tributaries, the North Fork Alsea River.
Course
The Alsea River begins in the Central Oregon Coast RangeCentral Oregon Coast Range
The Central Oregon Coast Range is the middle section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, and located in the west-central portion of the state of Oregon, United States roughly between the Salmon River and the Umpqua River and the Willamette Valley and the...
near the unincorporated community of Alsea
Alsea, Oregon
Alsea is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 34 and the Alsea River.As of the 2010 Census, the population was 164....
, and flows generally west about 48.5 miles (78.1 km) to the Pacific Ocean at Waldport
Waldport, Oregon
Waldport is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,050 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the Alsea River and Alsea Bay, south of Newport and north of Yachats.-Geography:...
, 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
Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest is a national forest in western Oregon, United States. Established in 1908, the Siuslaw is made up of a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from coastal forests to sand dunes.- Geography :...
for all but the last 6 miles (9.7 km) of its course. Oregon Route 34 follows the river closely, crossing it once about 8 miles (12.9 km) from the mouth.
During its first 1 miles (1.6 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 1220 feet (371.9 m) above sea level at coordinates 44.3573430°N 123.7048297°W. Along this stretch, which is about 9 miles (14.5 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 33.5 miles (53.9 km) from the mouth, the river leaves Benton County
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
, and enters Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge*Siuslaw National Forest -Demographics:...
.
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 44.3876206°N 123.7523311°W on the right about 31 miles (49.9 km) from the mouth. About 2 miles (3.2 km) later, the river begins another U-shaped loop of about 9 miles (14.5 km) around the south end of Stoney Mountain, which rises to 1020 feet (310.9 m) above sea level.
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 21 miles (33.8 km) from the mouth. About 1 miles (1.6 km) further downstream, the river passes Slide Campground on the right before entering Hellion Rapids at coordinates 44.3923427°N 123.8334448°W. 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
Tidewater, Oregon
Tidewater is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States located on the Alsea River east of Waldport on Oregon Route 34.Tidewater was named because it is near the head of the tide of the Alsea River...
, about 12 miles (19.3 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 8 miles (12.9 km) from the mouth. About 2 miles (3.2 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 3 miles (4.8 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
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
, and enters the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the bay.