Coos River
Encyclopedia
The Coos River flows for about 5 miles (8 km) into Coos Bay
along the Pacific coast of southwest Oregon
in the United States
. Formed by the confluence of its major tributaries, the South Fork Coos River
and the Millicoma River
, it drains an important timber-producing region of the Southern Oregon Coast Range
. The course of the main stem and the major tributaries is generally westward from the coastal forests to the eastern end of Coos Bay near the city of Coos Bay
.
The river is the largest tributary of Coos Bay, which at about 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha) is the largest estuary
that lies entirely within Oregon. The river enters the bay about 15 miles (24.1 km) from where the bay—curving east, north, and west of the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend
and passing by the communities of Barview
and Charleston
—meets the ocean. About 30 other tributaries also enter the bay directly.
Most of the Coos River watershed of 730 mi2 is in Coos County
, but 147 mi2 are in eastern Douglas County
. Commercial forests cover about 85 percent of the basin.
The river supports populations of Chinook
and Coho
salmon, shad
, steelhead
, and cutthroat trout
. Since public river-bank access is limited, fishing is often done by boat.
(Coos River Highway) on the right and Coos River Road on the left. Downstream from its source, the river receives Noah Creek from the right 4 miles (6.4 km) from the river mouth
. Curving south, the river receives Vogel Creek and then Lillian Creek, both from the left, before passing under Chandler Bridge, which carries Route 241 from the right bank to the left bank about 2 miles (3 km) from the mouth. The river then turns west and north as it enters the bay and splits into two distributaries
separated by a marsh. The Cooston Channel, which is on the right, continues north around the west side of the marsh for about 1 miles (1.6 km) to the mouth. The left-hand channel almost immediately merges with Catching Slough, which enters from the left and continues around the east side of the marsh to meet the Marshfield Channel of the bay.
Coos Bay
Coos Bay is an S-shaped inlet where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, approximately 10 miles long and two miles wide, on the Pacific Ocean coast of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The estuary is situated south of the Salmon River. The city of Coos Bay, once named Marshfield, was...
along the Pacific coast of southwest 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...
. Formed by the confluence of its major tributaries, the South Fork Coos River
South Fork Coos River
The South Fork Coos River is a tributary, about long, of the Coos River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of the Williams River and Tioga Creek, it begins in eastern Coos County near the Douglas County line and flows generally northwest through the Southern Oregon Coast Range....
and the Millicoma River
Millicoma River
The Millicoma River is a coast stream, about long, east of Coos Bay in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of the East Fork Millicoma River and the West Fork Millicoma River at Allegany, it meanders across relatively flat land to meet the South Fork Coos River, with which it forms...
, it drains an important timber-producing region of the Southern Oregon Coast Range
Southern Oregon Coast Range
The Southern Oregon Coast Range is the southernmost section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, located in the southwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States roughly between the Umpqua River and the middle fork of the Coquille River, beyond which are the Klamath...
. The course of the main stem and the major tributaries is generally westward from the coastal forests to the eastern end of Coos Bay near the city of Coos Bay
Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay is a city located in Coos County, Oregon, United States, where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city borders the city of North Bend, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or the Bay Area...
.
The river is the largest tributary of Coos Bay, which at about 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha) is the largest 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....
that lies entirely within Oregon. The river enters the bay about 15 miles (24.1 km) from where the bay—curving east, north, and west of the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend
North Bend, Oregon
North Bend is a city in Coos County, Oregon, in the United States with a population of 9,695 as of the 2010 census. North Bend is surrounded on three sides by Coos Bay, an S-shaped water inlet and estuary where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean, and borders the city of Coos Bay,...
and passing by the communities of Barview
Barview, Oregon
Barview is a census-designated place in Coos County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,872 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Barview is located at...
and Charleston
Charleston, Oregon
Charleston is an unincorporated community in Coos County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the ocean entrance to Coos Bay. According to the local chamber of commerce, it is the area's "commercial and sport fishing center", and the community also provides services for the seafood processing...
—meets the ocean. About 30 other tributaries also enter the bay directly.
Most of the Coos River watershed of 730 mi2 is in Coos County
Coos County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siskiyou National Forest *Siuslaw National Forest - Incorporated cities:- Unincorporated communities and CDPs:-See also:...
, but 147 mi2 are in eastern Douglas County
Douglas 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 -...
. Commercial forests cover about 85 percent of the basin.
The river supports populations 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
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:...
salmon, shad
Shad
The shads or river herrings comprise the genus Alosa, fish related to herring in the family Clupeidae. They are distinct from others in that family by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. The several species frequent different areas on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea....
, steelhead
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, 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...
. Since public river-bank access is limited, fishing is often done by boat.
Course
Flowing west from the confluence of the South Fork Coos River and the Millicoma River, the Coos River is bordered by Oregon Route 241Oregon Route 241
Oregon Route 241 is an Oregon state highway running from US Route 101 in Coos Bay to Nesika County Park in Coos County. OR 241 is known as the Coos River Highway No. 241...
(Coos River Highway) on the right and Coos River Road on the left. Downstream from its source, the river receives Noah Creek from the right 4 miles (6.4 km) from the river mouth
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
. Curving south, the river receives Vogel Creek and then Lillian Creek, both from the left, before passing under Chandler Bridge, which carries Route 241 from the right bank to the left bank about 2 miles (3 km) from the mouth. The river then turns west and north as it enters the bay and splits into two distributaries
Distributary
A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation. The opposite of a distributary is a tributary...
separated by a marsh. The Cooston Channel, which is on the right, continues north around the west side of the marsh for about 1 miles (1.6 km) to the mouth. The left-hand channel almost immediately merges with Catching Slough, which enters from the left and continues around the east side of the marsh to meet the Marshfield Channel of the bay.
Discharge
Estimates of the average discharge of the Coos River varies from 90 cuft/s in late summer to 5500 cuft/s in February. Estimated extremes vary from a low of 50 cuft/s to a high of 100000 cuft/s.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.