North Fork Siuslaw River
A bridge over the North Fork Siuslaw River near Florence.
North Fork Siuslaw River is located in Oregon
North Fork Siuslaw River
Location of the mouth of the North Fork Siuslaw River in Oregon
EtymologyFrom a Yakonan name for a locality, tribe or chief[2]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLane
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Sam Creek and West Branch Sam Creek
 • locationPawn, a former community and post office, Siuslaw National Forest
 • coordinates44°09′14″N 123°57′01″W / 44.15389°N 123.95028°W / 44.15389; -123.95028[1]
 • elevation419 ft (128 m)[3]
MouthSiuslaw River
 • location
near Florence, Oregon
 • coordinates
43°58′35″N 124°04′51″W / 43.97639°N 124.08083°W / 43.97639; -124.08083[1]
 • elevation
0 ft (0 m)[1]
Length27 mi (43 km)[1][4]
Basin size64 sq mi (170 km2)[5]

The North Fork Siuslaw River is a tributary of the Siuslaw River in Lane County in the United States state of Oregon. It is formed by the confluence of Sam Creek and West Branch in the Siuslaw National Forest of the Central Oregon Coast Range. The former community of Pawn was once at the juncture of the two creeks. From here, the river flows about 2 miles (3 km) southeast, then about 25 miles (40 km) southwest to meet the main stem 1.2 miles (1.9 km) east of Florence.[1][4]

Recreation

The United States Forest Service maintains the North Fork Siuslaw Campground along the river north of Minerva. Generally open from May 1 to December 1, it has seven dispersed campsites and a vault toilet but no drinking water.[6]

The river, which supports populations of Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, and steelhead, is open to fishing from boats downstream of Minerva and from the bank further upstream. Wild steelhead fishing is limited to catch and release.[7] Bender Landing County Park, off North Fork Road near Florence, has a boat ramp, picnic tables, toilets, and access to fishing.[8]

Tributaries

Sam Creek and West Branch form the river. Downstream of this from source to mouth, tributaries enter as follows: Cedar, Taylor, and Deadman creeks, all from the left; Porter, Wilhelm, and Drew creeks, right; Cataract, McLeod, and South Johns creeks, left; Stout Canyon, right, and Stout Creek, left.[4]

Then Shumard Creek, left; Russell Creek, right; South Russell Creek, left; Jim Dick, Condon, and Culver creeks, right; Bellstrom Canyon, left, and Morris, Haring, Slover, and Lindsley creeks, right.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "North Fork Siuslaw River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  2. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 883. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  3. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. ^ a b c d "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via ACME Mapper.
  5. ^ "North Fork Siuslaw River Watershed Analysis" (PDF). United States Forest Service. December 16, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "North Siuslaw Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  7. ^ Sheehan, Madelynne Diness. Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 40. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.
  8. ^ "All Parks A to E: Bender Landing". Lane County. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
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