Salmon River (Lincoln County, Oregon)

For other places with the same name, see Salmon River (disambiguation).

The Salmon River flows from the Central Oregon Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean coast of northwest Oregon in the United States.^[2] About 24 miles (39 km) long,^[4] it begins and ends in Lincoln County but also flows briefly through western Polk and southern Tillamook counties. Much of its course lies within the Siuslaw National Forest.^[7]

Salmon River
Near mouth on the Pacific Ocean
Location of the mouth of the Salmon River in Oregon
Etymology	salmon, the fish[1]
Location
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Lincoln, Tillamook, and Polk
Physical characteristics
Source	Saddlebag Mountain
• location	Central Oregon Coast Range, Lincoln County
• coordinates	44°59′42″N 123°46′35″W[2]
• elevation	3,050 ft (930 m)[3]
Mouth	Pacific Ocean
• location	near Cascade Head
• coordinates	45°02′48″N 124°00′22″W[2]
• elevation	0 ft (0 m)[2]
Length	24 mi (39 km)[4]
Basin size	75 sq mi (190 km2)[5]
Discharge
• average	339 cu ft/s (9.6 m3/s)[6]

Rising in the mountains near the Lincoln–Polk county line, it flows east into Polk County, then north and west, re-entering Lincoln County, entering Tillamook County and re-entering Lincoln County near Oregon Route 18. It continues generally west-southwestward through the Siuslaw National Forest, turning west again to enter the Pacific near Cascade Head, about 4 miles (6 km) north of Lincoln City.^[7]

Following the river through the mountains, Route 18 connects to Sheridan, McMinnville and the South Yamhill River valley to the east and U.S. Route 101 to the west. The river and highway pass through the Van Duzer Forest Corridor State Wayside.^[7] The river supports populations of wild steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout, as well as chinook and coho salmon released each year from a hatchery at Otis.^[4]

Tributaries

Named tributaries from source to mouth are the Little Salmon River, which enters from the right; Boulder Creek, left; Indian, Prairie, and Sulphur creeks, right; Deer Creek, left; Treat River, left; Alder Brook, right; Widow Creek, right.^[8]

Then Slick Rock and Bear creeks, left; Panther Creek, right; Willis Creek, left; Deer and Salmon creeks, right; Frazer and Rowdy creeks, left, and Crowley and Teal creeks, right.^[8]

See also

• List of rivers of Oregon

References

1. McArthur, pp. 842–43
2. "Salmon River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
3. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
4. Sheehan, pp. 32–33
5. "The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds" (PDF). Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. 2009. p. 2. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
6. Palmer, Tim (2014). Field Guide to Oregon Rivers. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-0-87071-627-0.
7. Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (2008 ed.). DeLorme Mapping. § 52, 58. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
8. "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 9, 2015 – via ACME Mapper.

Works cited

• McArthur, Lewis A., and McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names, 7th ed. Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
• Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide, 10th ed. Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.