Williamson River (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
The Williamson River of south-central Oregon
in the United States
is about 100 miles (160.9 km) long. It drains about 3000 mi2 east of the Cascade Range
. Together with its principal tributary, the Sprague River, it provides over half the inflow to Upper Klamath Lake
, the largest freshwater lake in Oregon. The lake's outlet is the Link River
, which flows into Lake Ewauna
and the Klamath River
.
The Williamson rises from a large spring in central Klamath County
, on the north side of Fuego Mountain, in the Winema National Forest
, about 40 miles (64.4 km) northeast of Klamath Falls
. It flows in a large arc north through the mountains, then west, then southwest through Klamath Marsh and the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
. Downstream of the refuge, the river flows roughly parallel to U.S. Route 97
, receiving Spring Creek from the right at Collier Memorial State Park
, about 5 miles (8 km) north of Chiloquin
. At Chiloquin, it receives the Sprague River from the left at about river mile
(RM) 11 or river kilometer (RK) 18. The Williamson enters the northern end of Upper Klamath Lake near Modoc Point
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of Klamath Falls.
At lower elevations along big streams, the Williamson watershed supports irrigated pastures and other farmlands. Livestock grazing occurs in many locations in the basin. Forests, often cut for timber, cover about 81 percent of the basin and farms account for 6 percent, while range, wetlands, water, and urban areas cover a combined 13 percent. Precipitation in the basin, which lies in the rain shadow
of the Cascade Range, averages 23 inches (584.2 mm) a year along the Williamson above its confluence with the Sprague and about 20 inches (508 mm) along the Sprague.
The Williamson is known for especially large wild rainbow trout
, which move into the river to spawn and to escape Upper Klamath Lake when it gets warm. Three-year-old fish "commonly reach 20 inches or better." Smaller numbers of brown trout
also thrive in the Williamson, especially below Spring Creek. Lost River suckers
also populate the river but are protected and cannot be caught and kept legally. Smaller rainbow trout and brook trout
live in the river above Klamath Marsh. Much of the land along the river is privately owned, and public access is limited.
Since 2003, The Nature Conservancy
and other organizations have been working to restore about 12 mi2 of wetlands in the Williamson River delta at the north end of Upper Klamath Lake. Formerly diked and drained for farming, the delta provides habitat for millions of migrating birds as well as many native species of fish, mollusk
s, and aquatic plants.
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...
is about 100 miles (160.9 km) long. It drains about 3000 mi2 east 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...
. Together with its principal tributary, the Sprague River, it provides over half the inflow to Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake east of the Cascade Range in south central Oregon in the United States. The largest freshwater body in Oregon, it is approximately 20 mi long and 8 mi wide and extends northwest from the city of Klamath Falls...
, the largest freshwater lake in Oregon. The lake's outlet is the Link River
Link River
The Link River is a short river connecting Upper Klamath Lake to Lake Ewauna in the city of Klamath Falls in the U.S. state of Oregon. Draining a basin of , the river begins at the southern end of Klamath Lake and flows a short distance to the Link River Dam and continues to the head of Lake Ewauna...
, which flows into Lake Ewauna
Lake Ewauna
Lake Ewauna is a lake in Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States. It is the headwaters of the Klamath River. Fed by Link River from Upper Klamath Lake and controlled by the release of water from Keno Dam downstream, Lake Ewauna stays at a constant level throughout the year.At just over 6,500 feet ...
and the Klamath River
Klamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
.
The Williamson rises from a large spring in central Klamath County
Klamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
, on the north side of Fuego Mountain, in the Winema National Forest
Winema National Forest
The Winema National Forest is a United States National Forest in Klamath County on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in south-central Oregon, and covers . The forest borders Crater Lake National Park near the crest of the Cascades and stretches eastward into the Klamath Basin...
, about 40 miles (64.4 km) northeast of Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
. It flows in a large arc north through the mountains, then west, then southwest through Klamath Marsh and the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1958 when approximately were purchased from the Klamath tribe with Federal Duck Stamp Funds. In 1990 and 1998, additional acquisitions boosted Refuge acreage to 40,646...
. Downstream of the refuge, the river flows roughly parallel to U.S. Route 97
U.S. Route 97 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 97 is a major north–south United States highway which runs through the state of Oregon . In Oregon, it runs from the Oregon-California border, south of Klamath Falls, to the Oregon-Washington border on the Columbia River, between Biggs Junction, Oregon and...
, receiving Spring Creek from the right at Collier Memorial State Park
Collier Memorial State Park
Collier Memorial State Park is a state park in southern Oregon. The park is operated and maintained by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It is located on U.S. Highway 97, approximately north of Klamath Falls and south of Bend...
, about 5 miles (8 km) north of Chiloquin
Chiloquin, Oregon
Chiloquin is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Chiloquin was the pioneer version of a Klamath family name Chaloquin, which was the name of a Klamath chief who was alive at the time of the treaty of 1864...
. At Chiloquin, it receives the Sprague River from the left 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) 11 or river kilometer (RK) 18. The Williamson enters the northern end of Upper Klamath Lake near Modoc Point
Modoc Point
Modoc Point is a cliff on the east shore of Upper Klamath Lake, in Klamath County, Oregon, United States, approximately 15 miles north of Klamath Falls on U.S. Route 97...
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of Klamath Falls.
At lower elevations along big streams, the Williamson watershed supports irrigated pastures and other farmlands. Livestock grazing occurs in many locations in the basin. Forests, often cut for timber, cover about 81 percent of the basin and farms account for 6 percent, while range, wetlands, water, and urban areas cover a combined 13 percent. Precipitation in the basin, which lies in the rain shadow
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
of the Cascade Range, averages 23 inches (584.2 mm) a year along the Williamson above its confluence with the Sprague and about 20 inches (508 mm) along the Sprague.
The Williamson is known for especially large wild rainbow trout
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....
, which move into the river to spawn and to escape Upper Klamath Lake when it gets warm. Three-year-old fish "commonly reach 20 inches or better." Smaller numbers of brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
also thrive in the Williamson, especially below Spring Creek. Lost River suckers
Lost River Sucker
The Lost River Sucker is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Catostomidae. It is the only living member of the genus Deltistes. It is found only in California and Oregon in the United States. Its population is much reduced from historical numbers for a number of reasons...
also populate the river but are protected and cannot be caught and kept legally. Smaller rainbow trout and brook trout
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
live in the river above Klamath Marsh. Much of the land along the river is privately owned, and public access is limited.
Since 2003, The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
and other organizations have been working to restore about 12 mi2 of wetlands in the Williamson River delta at the north end of Upper Klamath Lake. Formerly diked and drained for farming, the delta provides habitat for millions of migrating birds as well as many native species of fish, mollusk
Mollusca
The Mollusca , common name molluscs or mollusksSpelled mollusks in the USA, see reasons given in Rosenberg's ; for the spelling mollusc see the reasons given by , is a large phylum of invertebrate animals. There are around 85,000 recognized extant species of molluscs. Mollusca is the largest...
s, and aquatic plants.