Willamette River
| Willamette River | |
|---|---|
| Cities | Eugene, Corvallis, Albany, Independence, Salem, Newberg, Wilsonville, Portland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of Middle Fork Willamette River and Coast Fork Willamette River |
| • location | near Eugene, Lane County, Oregon |
Where does Willamette River start and end?
The Willamette River stretches nearly 300 miles from its headwaters at Waldo Lake near Eugene to the confluence with the Columbia River in North Portland.
Where does the Willamette River begin in Oregon?
Willamette RiverSources
How long of a float is it from Buena Vista to Independence Oregon?
Buena Vista to Independence, 11.5 miles.
Does the Willamette River run into the Columbia River?
Willamette River, watercourse of western Oregon, U.S. It is formed by the confluence of the Coast and Middle forks southeast of Eugene. It flows northward for 183 miles (295 km) past Corvallis, Albany, Salem, and Oregon City into the Columbia River near Portland. It is navigable downstream to Eugene.
Why is the Willamette River so brown?
“The river often ran carrot-red in some areas and brown with sewage in others, and in general, it was full of fiber from industrial processes such as papermaking and the contributions of many food processors as they turned Willamette Valley fruits and vegetables into products,” Kennemer said.
What is special about the Willamette River?
One of the key source waters of the Willamette system is Waldo Lake, one of the purest lakes in the world, in contrast to the highly polluted Superfund site located at the “end” of mainstem river, where it flows into the Columbia.
Can you swim in the Willamette River?
“Yes, the Willamette River in Portland is clean enough to boat, swim, kayak and otherwise enjoy,” said Diane Dulken, spokeswoman for the city’s Bureau of Environmental Services. The agency tests bacteria levels weekly at five popular recreational sites in the city during the summer.
How dirty is the Willamette River?
A century of poison has made the Willamette one of the most polluted rivers in the United States – it contains at least 65 chemicals that risk human and environmental health, according to the EPA, including petroleum, poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides like DDT, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy
How deep is the Willamette River in Oregon?
40 feet
The main channel, which is 40 feet (12 m) deep and varies in width from 600 to 1,900 feet (180 to 580 m) (although the river broadens to 2,000 feet (610 m) in some of its lower reaches), enters the Columbia about 101 miles (163 km) from the larger river’s mouth on the Pacific Ocean.
How long does it take to float from Independence to Salem?
It took us about 4 hours, but we did stop and got out to stretch and eat some snacks. Paddle sportsGreat!
Does the Willamette River have rapids?
The river is mostly Class II with a few steep Class III/III+ rapids. This is a great section of whitewater for those looking for a relaxing paddle punctuated with a few steep rapids.
How many ferries are on the Willamette River?
Yes, there are still three different and awesome ferries that will take you across the water: The Canby Ferry in Canby, the Wheatland Ferry north of Salem, and the Buena Vista Ferry south of Salem.
How deep is the Columbia River?
The Columbia River has the biggest discharge into the Pacific Ocean of any river. Water depths have been estimated at 400 feet (120 m) over modern Portland, Oregon, and at 1,000 feet (300 m) at Wallula Gap.
Where does the Columbia and Willamette River meet?
Kelley Point Park
Kelley Point Park, where the Columbia and Willamette rivers meet, is a dangerous place to swim.
What is the main river in Portland?
The Columbia River is a defining part of Portland’s geography, culture and history. Flowing more than 1,200 miles from the base of the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia to its mouth at the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the largest rivers in the United States.
Is the Willamette River safe to drink?
For decades, the Willamette has also been an important source of drinking water. The cities of Springfield, Corvallis, Adair Village, Wilsonville and Sherwood provide safe, quality water from the Willamette River.
Can you kayak the Willamette River?
Fall is a beautiful season to get out on Oregon’s rivers in a canoe or kayak. The forests, aflame with fall color, come alive with migrating birds and other wildlife on the move. The Willamette River Water Trail, which comprises 187 miles of the valley’s major waterway, is a great place to dip your paddle.
What is the meaning of Willamette?
Willamette, pronounced “will-AM-it,” is believed to derive from the colonized pronunciation of Wallamt, which means “still water,” describing a place on the river near Oregon City. The area was and is largely inhabited by Kalapuyans (members of the Kalapuya Tribe) as well as Molalla, Clackamas and Chinook peoples.
How did the Willamette River get polluted?
A City’s Waste
As Portland grew, so did the city’s impact on the Willamette. Human waste and polluted stormwater flowed directly into the river alongside hazardous chemical byproducts, which were produced in huge quantities by riverside factories, and toxic pesticides that were sprayed onto crops.
What fish live in the Willamette River?
You’ll find Chinook and Coho salmon, various kinds of trout including Steelhead, rainbow, and cutthroat, sturgeon, smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, and American shad when fishing the Willamette River.