Winchuck River
| Winchuck River | |
 The Winchuck River | |
| Name origin: Uncertain. Possibly the Chinook Jargon term for windy water. Possibly the local native name for woman.[1] | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Oregon |
| County | Curry County, Oregon and Del Norte County, California |
| Source | confluence of Bear and Salmon creeks |
| - location | Curry County, Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon |
| - elevation | 164 ft (50 m) [2] |
| - coordinates | 42°01′09″N 124°06′20″W / 42.01917°N 124.10556°W [3] |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean |
| - location | Crissey Field State Recreation Site, Curry County, Oregon |
| - elevation | 7 ft (2 m) [3] |
| - coordinates | 42°00′18″N 124°12′55″W / 42.00500°N 124.21528°W [3] |
| Basin | 71.3 sq mi (185 km2) [4] |
  Location of the mouth of the Winchuck River in Oregon
| |
The Winchuck River (Tolowa: duu-sr-xuu-shi taa-ghin-li~’ [5]) is a short coastal stream that runs through the Siskiyou National Forest to the Pacific Ocean in the U.S. state of Oregon. Flowing generally west from its origin near Elk Mountain, the river enters the sea at Crissey Field State Recreation Site,[6] about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of the Oregon–California border and about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Brookings.[7]
Formed by the confluence of Fourth of July Creek and Bear Creek in southern Curry County, the river flows generally west. Just below the source, Salmon Creek enters from the left, then Elk Creek and Deer Creek enter from the right. Further downstream, the Winchuck receives Moser Creek and the South Fork Winchuck River, both from the left. The river then leaves Oregon, flowing in Del Norte County, California, for a short distance before re-entering Oregon. The Winchuck passes under U.S. Route 101 in Oregon just before reaching the ocean. Winchuck River Road runs along or near the north side of the river for much of its course.[8]
The main stem and tributaries support Chinook and Coho salmon, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout.[9] Access for fishing is limited, especially along the lower stretches of the river. Fishing from boats is not allowed, but Winchuck River Road provides public access in places.[10]
The forests in the watershed include a wide variety of vegetation, including Douglas-fir, bigleaf maple, madrone, typical of the Southern Oregon Coast Range, coastal Siskiyou Mountains, and the Redwoods Zone.[11] Most of Oregon's remaining redwood forest lies within the Winchuck watershed.[9]
References
- ↑ McArthur, pp. 1049–50
- ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Winchuck River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Recreation – Winchuck River". United States Forest Service. August 6, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Siletz Talking Dictionary". Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ DeLorme Mapping. Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (1991 ed.). Section 17. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
- ↑ McGuire, p. 1
- ↑ United States Geological Survey. "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map". TopoQuest. Retrieved April 12, 2011. Relevant map quadrangles from mouth to source are Mount Emily, Smith River, and Fourth of July Creek.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "East Fork Winchuck River, Curry County". Western Rivers Conservancy. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ Sheehan, p. 114
- ↑ McGuire, pp. 13–20
Works cited
- McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [First published 1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 9780875952772. OCLC 53075956.
- McGuire, Mike (2001). Winchuck River Watershed Assessment. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. ISBN 978-0-916473-15-0. OCLC 60631276.