Breitenbush River
Encyclopedia
The Breitenbush River is a tributary of the North Santiam River
in western Oregon
in the United States
. It drains a rugged, forested area of the Cascade Range
east of Salem
.
It descends from several short forks in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness
in the high Cascades of eastern Marion County
. The South Fork Breitenbush River
begins at creeks flowing from Bays Lake and Russell Lake within Jefferson Park at approximately elevation 6000 ft (1830 m) and flows WNW, joining with a number of other forks, variously unnamed depending on the map, or sometimes called North Fork of the South Fork of the South Fork, etc. The North Fork Breitenbush River
begins at Breitenbush Lake (mostly on the Warm Springs Reservation) and joins with another fork which passes by Pyramid Lake. It flows WNW and connects with a half dozen other forks and creeks then turns WSW abeam Bald Butte. Several more creeks and Mink Creek and Rapidam Creek join before another fork.
The North and South forks flow west, joining 0.25 miles (402.3 m) east of the small community of Breitenbush
. The combined stream flows generally WSW through the Willamette National Forest
. It joins the North Santiam at Detroit
. The lower 2 miles (3.2 km) of the river cut what is now an arm of Detroit Lake
, formed by the Detroit Dam
on the North Santiam. During the winter draw down of the reservoir, the original bed of the river is visible in its natural course.
North Santiam River
The North Santiam River is a tributary of the Santiam River in western Oregon in the United States. It drains of the Cascade Range on the eastern side of the Willamette Valley east of Salem....
in western 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It drains a rugged, forested area of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
east of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
.
It descends from several short forks in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness
Mount Jefferson Wilderness
The Mount Jefferson Wilderness is a wilderness area located on and around Mount Jefferson in the central Cascade Range of Oregon in the United States. It is situated where the Willamette, Deschutes, and Mount Hood National Forests meet...
in the high Cascades of eastern Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
. The South Fork Breitenbush River
South Fork Breitenbush River
-References:...
begins at creeks flowing from Bays Lake and Russell Lake within Jefferson Park at approximately elevation 6000 ft (1830 m) and flows WNW, joining with a number of other forks, variously unnamed depending on the map, or sometimes called North Fork of the South Fork of the South Fork, etc. The North Fork Breitenbush River
North Fork Breitenbush River
-References:...
begins at Breitenbush Lake (mostly on the Warm Springs Reservation) and joins with another fork which passes by Pyramid Lake. It flows WNW and connects with a half dozen other forks and creeks then turns WSW abeam Bald Butte. Several more creeks and Mink Creek and Rapidam Creek join before another fork.
The North and South forks flow west, joining 0.25 miles (402.3 m) east of the small community of Breitenbush
Breitenbush, Oregon
Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center , commonly called Breitenbush Hot Springs or simply Breitenbush , is a worker-owned resort community featuring holistic and spiritual retreats...
. The combined stream flows generally WSW through the Willamette National Forest
Willamette National Forest
The Willamette National Forest is a National Forest located in the central portion of the Cascade Range of US state of Oregon.It comprises 1,675,407 acres making it one of the largest national forests. Over 380,000 acres are designated wilderness which include seven major mountain peaks...
. It joins the North Santiam at Detroit
Detroit, Oregon
Detroit is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It was named for Detroit, Michigan in the 1890s because of the large number of people from Michigan in the community. The population was 262 at the 2000 census...
. The lower 2 miles (3.2 km) of the river cut what is now an arm of Detroit Lake
Detroit Lake
Detroit Lake is a reservoir impounded by the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River southeast of Salem, Oregon, United States.The lake is adjacent to Oregon Route 22 near the city of Detroit....
, formed by the Detroit Dam
Detroit Dam
Detroit Dam was completed in 1953 by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on the North Santiam River between Linn County and Marion County, Oregon, in the Cascades...
on the North Santiam. During the winter draw down of the reservoir, the original bed of the river is visible in its natural course.