Wilson River (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
The Wilson River is a stream, about 33 miles (53.1 km) long, that flows from the Northern Oregon Coast Range
to Tillamook Bay
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. Formed by the confluence of its Devil's Lake Fork and its South Fork, it runs generally west through the Tillamook State Forest
to its mouth near the city of Tillamook
. It is one of five rivers—the Tillamook
, the Trask
, the Wilson, the Kilchis
, and the Miami
—that flow into the bay.
. The river's North Fork rises in northern Tillamook County and flows south. Its South Fork rises in eastern Tillamook County and western Washington County
and flows west to merge with Devils Lake Fork. Further downstream, the Wilson River receives the North Fork near Lee's Camp. It then flows southwest to Tillamook, entering the southeast end of Tillamook Bay about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of the city. The mouth of the river is about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of the mouth of the Trask River and slightly south of the mouth of the Kilchis River. Oregon Route 6, also known as the Wilson River Highway, runs parallel to the river and links the Tualatin Valley
and the Portland
metropolitan area with the Oregon Coast
.
(USGS) monitors the flow of the Wilson River at a stream gauge
9.3 miles (15 km) from the mouth of the river. The average flow at this gauge is 1177 cuft/s. This is from a drainage area of 161 square miles (417 km²), about 83 percent of the total Wilson River watershed. The maximum flow recorded there was 38600 cuft/s on November 6, 2006, and the minimum flow was 32 cuft/s on September 5, 1973, although it might have been less for a short while after a landslide on January 31, 1965.
average about 20 pounds (9.1 kg), fall Chinook from 25 to 28 lb (11.3 to 12.7 kg), and Steelhead
from 10 to 12 lb (4.5 to 5.4 kg). County-owned boat launches on the lower reaches and public access via Route 6 through the Tillamook State Forest make the river easily accessible to angler
s. State regulations govern the seasons and methods of fishing.
Northern Oregon Coast Range
The Northern Oregon Coast Range is the northern section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, located in the northwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States. This section of the mountain range, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, contains peaks as high...
to Tillamook Bay
Tillamook Bay
Tillamook Bay is a small inlet of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 6 mi long and 2 mi wide, on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Oregon...
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...
. Formed by the confluence of its Devil's Lake Fork and its South Fork, it runs generally west through the Tillamook State Forest
Tillamook State Forest
The Tillamook State Forest is a publicly owned forest in the U.S. state of Oregon. Managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry, it is located west of Portland in the Northern Oregon Coast Range, and spans Washington, Tillamook, Yamhill, and Clatsop counties. The forest receives large amounts of...
to its mouth near the city of Tillamook
Tillamook, Oregon
The city of Tillamook is the county seat of Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on the southeast end of Tillamook Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The population was 4,352 at the 2000 census...
. It is one of five rivers—the Tillamook
Tillamook River
The Tillamook River is a stream, about long, near the coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains an oceanside valley in the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range west of Portland and empties into the Pacific Ocean via Tillamook Bay...
, the Trask
Trask River
The Trask River is in northwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains a mountainous timber-producing area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range west of Portland into Tillamook Bay and the Pacific Ocean...
, the Wilson, the Kilchis
Kilchis River
The Kilchis River is a stream, about long, near the coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains a mountainous timbered region of about in the Northern Oregon Coast Range west of Portland....
, and the Miami
Miami River (Oregon)
The Miami River is a stream, approximately long, on the coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains a mountainous timbered region of the Northern Oregon Coast Range west of Portland, into Pacific Ocean....
—that flow into the bay.
Course
The river rises in the Tillamook State Forest in the mountains of northeastern Tillamook CountyTillamook County, Oregon
Tillamook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Tillamook, a Native American tribe who were living in the area in the early 19th century at the time of European American settlement. In 2010, the county's population was 25,250...
. The river's North Fork rises in northern Tillamook County and flows south. Its South Fork rises in eastern Tillamook County and western Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
and flows west to merge with Devils Lake Fork. Further downstream, the Wilson River receives the North Fork near Lee's Camp. It then flows southwest to Tillamook, entering the southeast end of Tillamook Bay about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of the city. The mouth of the river is about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of the mouth of the Trask River and slightly south of the mouth of the Kilchis River. Oregon Route 6, also known as the Wilson River Highway, runs parallel to the river and links the Tualatin Valley
Tualatin Valley
The Tualatin Valley is a farming and suburban region southwest of Portland, Oregon in the United States. The valley is formed by the meandering Tualatin River, a tributary of the Willamette River at the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley, east of the Northern Oregon Coast Range...
and the Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
metropolitan area with the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
.
Discharge
The United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) monitors the flow of the Wilson River at 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...
9.3 miles (15 km) from the mouth of the river. The average flow at this gauge is 1177 cuft/s. This is from a drainage area of 161 square miles (417 km²), about 83 percent of the total Wilson River watershed. The maximum flow recorded there was 38600 cuft/s on November 6, 2006, and the minimum flow was 32 cuft/s on September 5, 1973, although it might have been less for a short while after a landslide on January 31, 1965.
Fishing
According to Fishing Oregon: An Angler's Guide to Oregon, the Wilson River is "one of the state's best steelhead and Chinook salmon fisheries". Spring ChinookChinook 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...
average about 20 pounds (9.1 kg), fall Chinook from 25 to 28 lb (11.3 to 12.7 kg), and 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....
from 10 to 12 lb (4.5 to 5.4 kg). County-owned boat launches on the lower reaches and public access via Route 6 through the Tillamook State Forest make the river easily accessible to angler
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
s. State regulations govern the seasons and methods of fishing.