Middle Fork Willamette River
Encyclopedia
The Middle Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River
in the western part of the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It is approximately 115 mi (185 km) long, draining an area of the mountains at the south end of the Willamette Valley
south of Eugene
.
by the joining of several small headwater streams near Emigrant Pass. It flows generally north, through the Calapooya Mountains
, to the vicinity of Eugene, where it joins the Coast Fork Willamette River
to form the Willamette River proper.
Just south, upriver, of Oakridge
the Middle Fork is impounded in Hills Creek Reservoir, created by Hills Creek Dam. Downriver from the dam and Oakridge, the Middle Fork is joined by the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River. Below this confluence, the Middle Fork is impounded by two more reservoirs, Lookout Point Reservoir and Dexter Reservoir, before joining the Coast Fork and forming the main Willamette River.
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
in the western part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. It is approximately 115 mi (185 km) long, draining an area of the mountains at the south end of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
south of Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
.
Course
The Middle Fork Willamette River is formed in northeastern Douglas CountyDouglas County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Crater Lake National Park * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Siuslaw National Forest * Umpqua National Forest * Willamette National Forest -Adjacent counties:* Lane County, Oregon -...
by the joining of several small headwater streams near Emigrant Pass. It flows generally north, through the Calapooya Mountains
Calapooya Mountains
The Calapooya Mountains are a mountain range in Lane and Douglas counties of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The range runs for approximately west from the Cascade Range between Eugene on the north and Roseburg on the south.- Geology :...
, to the vicinity of Eugene, where it joins the Coast Fork Willamette River
Coast Fork Willamette River
The Coast Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River in western Oregon in the United States. It is about long, draining an area of the mountains at the south end of the Willamette Valley south of Eugene.-Course:...
to form the Willamette River proper.
Just south, upriver, of Oakridge
Oakridge, Oregon
Oakridge is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was estimated at 3,205 in 2010. It is located east of Westfir on Oregon Route 58, about east of Eugene, and southeast of Portland...
the Middle Fork is impounded in Hills Creek Reservoir, created by Hills Creek Dam. Downriver from the dam and Oakridge, the Middle Fork is joined by the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River. Below this confluence, the Middle Fork is impounded by two more reservoirs, Lookout Point Reservoir and Dexter Reservoir, before joining the Coast Fork and forming the main Willamette River.
See also
- List of rivers of Oregon
- List of longest streams of Oregon
- Tributaries of the Columbia RiverTributaries of the Columbia RiverTributaries and sub-tributaries are hierarchically listed in order from the mouth of the Columbia River upstream. Major dams and reservoir lakes are also noted.-Minor tributaries:* Skipanon River * Lewis and Clark River * Youngs River...