West Fork Millicoma River
Encyclopedia
The West Fork Millicoma River is a tributary, about 34 miles (54.7 km) 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 Allegany
. There it joins the East 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.
. Over the next 6 miles (9.7 km), Panther Creek enters from the left, Fish Creek from the right, Elk Creek from the left, and Knife, Deer, and Otter creeks from the right. The river turns south, and Joes Creek enters from the right at about river mile
(RM) 24.5 or river kilometer (RK) 39.4. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) further downstream, Buck Creek enters from the right. The next named tributary to enter the river is Trout Creek, which comes in from the right at about RM 19 (RK 31).
About 17 miles (27.4 km) from the mouth, the river turns west and a mile later descends Stulls Falls and turns south once more. Turning west near RM 14 (RK 23), the river goes over Henrys Falls, meandering generally south-southwest thereafter. Schumacher Creek enters from the right before the river passes over Pidgeon Falls and receives Totten and Daggett creeks from the right about 7 miles (11.3 km) from the mouth. The river then flows by a stream gauge
maintained by the Coos Watershed Association. Turning south once again, the river flows around Devils Elbow and receives Rainy Creek from the left before meeting the East Fork Millicoma River at Allegany. The West Fork Millicoma Road runs roughly parallel to the river from Allegany to Stalls Falls, and logging roads reach the headwaters.
fishery as well as good cutthroat trout
fishing near the headwaters
. A hatchery
about 9 miles (14.5 km) upstream of Allegany releases juvenile steelhead to the lower river, but it is difficult to fish downstream of the hatchery because of limited bank access and the dangers of boating through rapids. However, the hatchery site itself offers bank access. The site also includes an interpretive center that is open to the public.
Whitewater
enthusiasts sometimes run a stretch of the river, about 6 to 9 mi (9.7 to 14.5 km) long, that begins upstream of Henry's Falls. Obstacles like the falls, a 10 feet (3 m) drop, are generally scouted before running and often portage
d.
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 northeastern 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:...
near the 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 -...
line, it flows generally southwest through the Elliott State Forest
Elliott State Forest
Elliott State Forest is a state forest in the Oregon Coast Range in Coos County, between Coos Bay and Reedsport. The first state forest established in Oregon, it is named after the state's first state forester Francis Elliott....
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...
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...
. There it joins the East Fork Millicoma River
East Fork Millicoma River
The East Fork Millicoma River is a tributary, about 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...
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.
Course
Beginning northeast of Elk Peak, the river flows generally north parallel to Umpcoos Ridge before turning west and receiving Cougar Creek from the right and then Kelly Creek from the right about 32 miles (51.5 km) from the mouthRiver 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...
. Over the next 6 miles (9.7 km), Panther Creek enters from the left, Fish Creek from the right, Elk Creek from the left, and Knife, Deer, and Otter creeks from the right. The river turns south, and Joes Creek enters from the right at about 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) 24.5 or river kilometer (RK) 39.4. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) further downstream, Buck Creek enters from the right. The next named tributary to enter the river is Trout Creek, which comes in from the right at about RM 19 (RK 31).
About 17 miles (27.4 km) from the mouth, the river turns west and a mile later descends Stulls Falls and turns south once more. Turning west near RM 14 (RK 23), the river goes over Henrys Falls, meandering generally south-southwest thereafter. Schumacher Creek enters from the right before the river passes over Pidgeon Falls and receives Totten and Daggett creeks from the right about 7 miles (11.3 km) from the mouth. The river then flows by 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...
maintained by the Coos Watershed Association. Turning south once again, the river flows around Devils Elbow and receives Rainy Creek from the left before meeting the East Fork Millicoma River at Allegany. The West Fork Millicoma Road runs roughly parallel to the river from Allegany to Stalls Falls, and logging roads reach the headwaters.
Recreation
The river supports a steelheadRainbow 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....
fishery as well as good 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...
fishing near the headwaters
Source (river or stream)
The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the place from which the water in the river or stream originates.-Definition:There is no universally agreed upon definition for determining a stream's source...
. A hatchery
Hatchery
A hatchery is a facility where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions, especially those of fish or poultry. It may be used for ex-situ conservation purposes, i.e. to breed rare or endangered species under controlled conditions; alternatively, it may be for economic reasons A hatchery is a...
about 9 miles (14.5 km) upstream of Allegany releases juvenile steelhead to the lower river, but it is difficult to fish downstream of the hatchery because of limited bank access and the dangers of boating through rapids. However, the hatchery site itself offers bank access. The site also includes an interpretive center that is open to the public.
Whitewater
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
enthusiasts sometimes run a stretch of the river, about 6 to 9 mi (9.7 to 14.5 km) long, that begins upstream of Henry's Falls. Obstacles like the falls, a 10 feet (3 m) drop, are generally scouted before running and often portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
d.
Works cited
- Giordano, Pete (2004). Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon's Rivers, 4th ed. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books. ISBN 978-0-89886-815-9.
- 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.