North Fork Clackamas River
Encyclopedia
The North Fork Clackamas River is a tributary, about 11 miles (17.7 km) long, of the Clackamas River
in the U.S. state of Oregon
. Originating at nearly 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) above sea level on the west side of the Cascade Range
, it flows westward through Mount Hood National Forest
. It joins the Clackamas at North Fork Reservoir, about 32 miles (51.5 km) from the larger river's confluence with the Willamette River
. From source to mouth, the following tributaries enter the river: Dry Creek from the right bank, Boyer Creek from the left bank, then Whiskey, Bedford, Bee, and Fall creeks, all from the right.
Elevations in the watershed range from 4770 feet (1,453.9 m) in the headwaters on Squaw Mountain to 660 feet (201.2 m) at the river mouth. Prominent landforms include Ladee Flats, a flat-topped ridge composed of lava flows resistant to erosion. The North Fork valley is narrow and steep, and a 50 feet (15.2 m) waterfall 2.5 miles (4 km) from the mouth limits passage of migratory fish. Native rainbow
and cutthroat trout
are found in the upper river and its tributaries, while the lower river has winter and summer steelhead
, coho salmon
, spring chinook
, and stocked rainbow trout.
Clackamas River
The Clackamas River is an approximately tributary of the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon, in the United States. As it drains an area of about , the Clackamas passes through mostly forested and rugged mountainous terrain in its upper reaches, and passes through agricultural and urban areas...
in the U.S. state 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...
. Originating at nearly 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) above sea level on the west side of 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...
, it flows westward through Mount Hood National Forest
Mount Hood National Forest
The Mount Hood National Forest is located east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes...
. It joins the Clackamas at North Fork Reservoir, about 32 miles (51.5 km) from the larger river's confluence with the 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...
. From source to mouth, the following tributaries enter the river: Dry Creek from the right bank, Boyer Creek from the left bank, then Whiskey, Bedford, Bee, and Fall creeks, all from the right.
Elevations in the watershed range from 4770 feet (1,453.9 m) in the headwaters on Squaw Mountain to 660 feet (201.2 m) at the river mouth. Prominent landforms include Ladee Flats, a flat-topped ridge composed of lava flows resistant to erosion. The North Fork valley is narrow and steep, and a 50 feet (15.2 m) waterfall 2.5 miles (4 km) from the mouth limits passage of migratory fish. Native rainbow
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...
are found in the upper river and its tributaries, while the lower river has winter and summer 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....
, coho salmon
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:...
, spring 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 stocked rainbow trout.
Works cited
- North Fork Clackamas River Watershed Analysis: Final Report (1996). United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved on March 19, 2009.