East Fork Millicoma River
Encyclopedia
The East Fork Millicoma River is a tributary, about 24 miles (38.6 km) long, of the Millicoma River
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. Rising in eastern Coos County
, it flows generally west to the community of Allegany
, where it joins the West Fork Millicoma River
to form the Millicoma. In turn, the Millicoma, which is only about 9 miles (14.5 km) long, joins the South Fork Coos River
to form the Coos River
. The Coos River, itself only about 5 miles (8 km) long, empties into the eastern end of Coos Bay
, which connects to the Pacific Ocean.
Forming north of Coos Ridge in the Southern Oregon Coast Range
near Ivers Peak, the river flows west, receiving Beulah Creek from the right about 18 miles (29 km) from the mouth
. About 6 miles (9.7 km) further downstream, Little Matson Creek enters from the right, and a mile or so later Fox Creek enters from the left. The river receives Glenn Creek from the right about 7 miles (11.3 km) from the mouth. Glenn Creek and one of its tributaries, Silver Creek, cascade over Golden and Silver falls in the Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area
. The East Fork Millicoma River then passes a stream gauge
managed by the Coos Watershed Association.
Rodine Creek enters from the left about 2 miles (3 km) later. Just below the confluence with Rodine Creek, Nesika County Park is on the left, and Hodges Creek enters from the left. Less than a mile from Allegany, Marlow Creek enters from the right and then Nowlit Creek, also from the right, before the East Fork meets the West Fork to form the Millicoma. East Fork Millicoma Road runs parallel to the river for much of its course.
The river supports cutthroat trout
and a run of winter steelhead
. Nesika County Park, about 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Allegany on East Fork Millicoma Road, offers bank access for steelhead fishing.
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...
in 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...
. Rising in eastern 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:...
, it flows generally west to the community of Allegany
Allegany, Oregon
Allegany is an unincorporated community in Coos County, Oregon, United States east of Coos Bay. According to Oregon Geographic Names, a post office was established there in 1893, and it is unknown why this spelling was chosen rather than the more common form, Allegheny, used for many features in...
, where it joins the West Fork Millicoma River
West Fork Millicoma River
The West Fork Millicoma River is a tributary, about long, of the Millicoma River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Rising in northeastern Coos County near the Douglas County line, it flows generally southwest through the Elliott State Forest of the Southern Oregon Coast Range to the community of...
to form the Millicoma. In turn, the Millicoma, which is only about 9 miles (14.5 km) long, joins 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....
to form the Coos River
Coos River
The Coos River flows for about 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 Coos River, itself only about 5 miles (8 km) long, empties into the eastern end of Coos 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...
, which connects to the Pacific Ocean.
Forming north of Coos Ridge in 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...
near Ivers Peak, the river flows west, receiving Beulah Creek from the right about 18 miles (29 km) from the 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...
. About 6 miles (9.7 km) further downstream, Little Matson Creek enters from the right, and a mile or so later Fox Creek enters from the left. The river receives Glenn Creek from the right about 7 miles (11.3 km) from the mouth. Glenn Creek and one of its tributaries, Silver Creek, cascade over Golden and Silver falls in the Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area
Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area
Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area is a state park in Coos County, Oregon United States, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The nearest settlement is Allegany....
. The East Fork Millicoma River then passes a 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...
managed by the Coos Watershed Association.
Rodine Creek enters from the left about 2 miles (3 km) later. Just below the confluence with Rodine Creek, Nesika County Park is on the left, and Hodges Creek enters from the left. Less than a mile from Allegany, Marlow Creek enters from the right and then Nowlit Creek, also from the right, before the East Fork meets the West Fork to form the Millicoma. East Fork Millicoma Road runs parallel to the river for much of its course.
The river supports 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...
and a run of winter 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....
. Nesika County Park, about 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Allegany on East Fork Millicoma Road, offers bank access for steelhead fishing.
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.