North Fork Alsea River

The North Fork Alsea River is a 16-mile (26 km) tributary of the Alsea River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at Klickitat Lake, fed by Klickitat and Lake creeks in the Central Oregon Coast Range, and flows generally south to near Alsea, where it joins the South Fork Alsea River to form the main stem. For most of its course, the North Fork winds through the Siuslaw National Forest in Lincoln County and then Benton County. It passes under Oregon Route 34 northeast of Alsea.[4]

North Fork Alsea River
The North Fork Alsea River at Clemens Park in Benton County
Location of the mouth of North Fork Alsea River in Oregon
EtymologyAlsi, said to be a corruption of Alsea for native people who lived near the mouth of the river[1]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLincoln and Benton
Physical characteristics
SourceKlickitat Lake
 • locationCentral Oregon Coast Range, Lincoln County
 • coordinates44°28′40″N 123°39′26″W[2]
 • elevation1,171 ft (357 m)[3]
MouthAlsea River
 • location
near Alsea, Benton County
 • coordinates
44°22′34″N 123°36′10″W[2]
 • elevation
272 ft (83 m)[2]
Length16 mi (26 km)[4]

The Alsea Hatchery, constructed by the state in 1936, raises winter steelhead and other rainbow trout along the North Fork.[5] According to Fishing in Oregon, the river is a "beautiful stream (well-suited to fly angling) with a large run of hatchery winter steelhead."[6] The stream also supports populations of wild cutthroat trout. It is closed to salmon fishing or fishing from a floating device.[6]

Clemens Park, a Benton County park of about 38 acres (15 ha), lies along the North Fork and Route 34 near Alsea. Amenities include picnic tables, restrooms, a self-guided nature trail, fishing and "areas for water play".[7]

Tributaries

Listed from source to mouth, the named tributaries begin with Klickitat and Lake creeks, which form Klickitat Lake, the headwaters of the North Fork Alsea River. Downstream of the lake, Sweethome and Slide creeks enter from the left; Easter and Gravel creeks, right; Bailey, Crooked, and Seeley creeks, left; Hayden and Ryder creeks, right; Honey Grove Creek, left, and Kiger Creek, right.[4]

See also

References
  1. McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 19–20. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  2. "North Fork Alsea River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  3. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. "United States Topographic Map". Retrieved November 16, 2015. The map includes markers at 1-mile (1.6 km) intervals along the course.
  5. "Alsea Hatchery". Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  6. Sheehan, Madelynne Diness. Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 7. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.
  7. "Clemens Park". Benton County. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
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