| Middle Fork Willamette River | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Tributaries | |
| - right | North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River |
| Source | Cascade Range |
| - elevation | 5,552 ft (1,692 m) [1] |
| - coordinates | [2] |
| Mouth | Willamette River |
| - elevation | 436 ft (133 m) [2] |
| - coordinates | [2] |
| Length | 115 mi (185 km) [3] |
| Basin | 1,340 sq mi (3,471 km2) |
| Discharge | for Jasper |
| - average | 4,092 cu ft/s (116 m3/s) [4] |
| - max | 94,000 cu ft/s (2,662 m3/s) |
| - min | 366 cu ft/s (10 m3/s) |
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Location of the mouth of the Middle Fork Willamette River in Oregon
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The Middle Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River in the western part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is approximately 115 mi (185 km) long,[3] draining an area of the mountains at the south end of the Willamette Valley south of Eugene.
The Middle Fork Willamette River is formed in northeastern Douglas County by the joining of several small headwater streams near Emigrant Pass. It flows generally north, through the Calapooya Mountains, to the vicinity of Eugene, where it joins the Coast Fork Willamette River to form the Willamette River proper.
Just south, upriver, of Oakridge the Middle Fork is impounded in Hills Creek Reservoir, created by Hills Creek Dam. Downriver from the dam and Oakridge, the Middle Fork is joined by the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River. Below this confluence, the Middle Fork is impounded by two more reservoirs, Lookout Point Reservoir and Dexter Reservoir, before joining the Coast Fork and forming the main Willamette River.