Gilbert River (Oregon)

The Gilbert River is a tributary of the Multnomah Channel on Sauvie Island in the U.S. state of Oregon. About 14 miles (23 km) long, it flows from near the south end of the island into Sturgeon Lake and then north from the lake into the channel, a distributary of the Willamette River.[4]

Gilbert River
Location of the mouth of the Gilbert River in Oregon
EtymologyFor a Hudson's Bay Company employee said to have drowned in the river[1]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyMultnomah, Columbia
Physical characteristics
SourceSauvie Island
 • locationnear south end east of Burlington, Multnomah County
 • coordinates45°38′58″N 122°48′13″W[2]
 • elevation19 ft (5.8 m)[3]
MouthMultnomah Channel
 • location
near north end east of Scappoose, Columbia County
 • coordinates
45°47′21″N 122°47′59″W[2]
 • elevation
10 ft (3.0 m)[2]

The river loses only 9 feet (3 m) of elevation between source and mouth.[2] It enters the channel about 6 miles (10 km) from its confluence with the Columbia River. Its three named tributaries from source to mouth are Ash, Jack, and Mud sloughs, and it connects by water to a complex of lakes across the island including Steelman, Round, Gay, Racetrack, Malarky, and McNary, as well as Sturgeon.[4]

The river is navigable by canoes and shallow-draft boats between Sturgeon Lake and the mouth. A mooring float with no shore access lies about a quarter mile from the mouth.[5]

The stream was named for a Hudson's Bay Company employee, a French Canadian named Gilbert, said to have drowned in the river. Gilbert was a trapper during the fur-trading era.[1]

See also

References
  1. McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 401. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  2. "Gilbert River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  3. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 25, 2016 – via Acme Mapper.
  5. "Waterways". Sauvie Island Community Association. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
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