Row River
Encyclopedia
The Row River is a river, approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long, in Lane County, Oregon
, United States
. It rises in the Cascade Range
and flows into the Coast Fork Willamette River
near Cottage Grove
. The stream was originally known as the "East Fork Coast Fork", but was later renamed after a dispute between neighbors and brothers-in-law George Clark and Joseph Southwell over "trespassing" livestock. Clark was killed as a result of the row. The name rhymes with "cow" rather than with "slow". A post office named Row River operated from 1911 to 1914 a little north of the present site of Dorena
at 43.7401232°N 122.8803469°W.
on the west face of the central Oregon Cascades between Cottage Grove and Oakridge
. Its headwaters are near the unincorporated community of Disston
, where Layng Creek and Brice Creek join at 43.70331°N 122.77093°W. The river flows predominately westward.
About 1 miles (1.6 km) below Disston, Gleason Creek enters from the right bank, and about 1 miles (1.6 km) later, the Row receives Hunt Creek from the right and passes over 15 feet (4.6 m) Wildwood Falls at 43.6998450°N 122.8189535°W. A quarter-mile (500 m) later it passes through Lasells D. Stewart Park, and 1 miles (1.6 km) later through the community of Culp Creek
, where it receives Sharp's Creek and then Culp Creek, both from the left bank. Turning northwards, the river receives Hawley Creek from the left just above river mile
(RM) 15 or river kilometer (RK 24) and shortly thereafter flows through Dorena. At RM 14 (RK 23), Cedar Creek enters from the right. Soon the river turns sharply west, passes a United States Geological Survey
(USGS) stream gauge
at RM 13.2 (RK 21.2), and turns to the northwest. Over the next stretch, it receives Pitcher Creek, King Creek, and Anderson Creek, all from the left, before entering Dorena Lake at RM 11 (RK 18).
While part of the lake, the Row River receives Vaughn Creek from the left, Smith Creek from the right, Bluff Creek from the left, Rat Creek from the right, and Baker Creek from the left before reaching Dorena Dam and spillway at about RM 7.5 (RK 12.1). The river passes a second USGS stream gauge 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from the mouth, and soon Hann's Creek enters from the right. In its final 5 miles (8 km), the river receives Mosby Creek from the left, turns northwest, flows by Cottage Grove State Airport
, and passes under Interstate 5
before entering the Coast Fork Willamette River just below the larger stream's RM 21 (RK 34).
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It rises in 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...
and flows into 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:...
near Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Cottage Grove is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It received its name from its first postmaster, G. C. Pierce, in September 1861. Pierce's home at the time was in an oak grove. The population was 9,686 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. The stream was originally known as the "East Fork Coast Fork", but was later renamed after a dispute between neighbors and brothers-in-law George Clark and Joseph Southwell over "trespassing" livestock. Clark was killed as a result of the row. The name rhymes with "cow" rather than with "slow". A post office named Row River operated from 1911 to 1914 a little north of the present site of Dorena
Dorena, Oregon
Dorena is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located southeast of Cottage Grove on the Row River, a tributary of the Coast Fork Willamette River.-History:...
at 43.7401232°N 122.8803469°W.
Course
The Row River, about 20 miles (32.2 km) long, drains a portion of the Umpqua National ForestUmpqua National Forest
Umpqua National Forest, in southern Oregon's Cascade mountains, covers an area of one-million acres in Douglas, Lane, and Jackson Counties, and borders Crater Lake National Park. The four ranger districts that comprise the Forest are Cottage Grove, Diamond Lake, North Umpqua, and Tiller Ranger...
on the west face of the central Oregon Cascades between Cottage Grove and 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...
. Its headwaters are near the unincorporated community of Disston
Disston, Oregon
Disston is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States, southeast of Cottage Grove where Brice Creek and Layng Creek join to form the Row River. It is about a mile west of the Umpqua National Forest....
, where Layng Creek and Brice Creek join at 43.70331°N 122.77093°W. The river flows predominately westward.
About 1 miles (1.6 km) below Disston, Gleason Creek enters from the right bank, and about 1 miles (1.6 km) later, the Row receives Hunt Creek from the right and passes over 15 feet (4.6 m) Wildwood Falls at 43.6998450°N 122.8189535°W. A quarter-mile (500 m) later it passes through Lasells D. Stewart Park, and 1 miles (1.6 km) later through the community of Culp Creek
Culp Creek, Oregon
Culp Creek is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States, southeast of Cottage Grove on the Row River. It lies on Row River Road between Dorena and Disston.-Geography:...
, where it receives Sharp's Creek and then Culp Creek, both from the left bank. Turning northwards, the river receives Hawley Creek from the left just above river mile
River mile
In the United States, a River mile is a measure of distance in miles along a river from its mouth. River mile numbers begin at zero and increase further upstream. The corresponding metric unit using kilometers is the River kilometer...
(RM) 15 or river kilometer (RK 24) and shortly thereafter flows through Dorena. At RM 14 (RK 23), Cedar Creek enters from the right. Soon the river turns sharply west, passes a United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) stream gauge
Stream gauge
A stream gauge, stream gage or gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water surface elevation and/or volumetric discharge are generally taken and observations of biota may also be...
at RM 13.2 (RK 21.2), and turns to the northwest. Over the next stretch, it receives Pitcher Creek, King Creek, and Anderson Creek, all from the left, before entering Dorena Lake at RM 11 (RK 18).
While part of the lake, the Row River receives Vaughn Creek from the left, Smith Creek from the right, Bluff Creek from the left, Rat Creek from the right, and Baker Creek from the left before reaching Dorena Dam and spillway at about RM 7.5 (RK 12.1). The river passes a second USGS stream gauge 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from the mouth, and soon Hann's Creek enters from the right. In its final 5 miles (8 km), the river receives Mosby Creek from the left, turns northwest, flows by Cottage Grove State Airport
Cottage Grove State Airport
Cottage Grove State Airport or Jim Wright Field , is a public airport serving small general aviation aircraft, located one mile east of the city of Cottage Grove in Lane County, Oregon, USA....
, and passes under Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
before entering the Coast Fork Willamette River just below the larger stream's RM 21 (RK 34).