The Willamette River Basin is the largest watershed in the state, covering more than 11,500 square miles. The Willamette River flows through the heart of downtown Portland and is a vital connection for fish and wildlife migrating to habitat and spawning streams.
What river flows through Portland Oregon?
Willamette
The Willamette River is a 187-mile (301 km) tributary of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Course of the Willamette River.
| Willamette | |
|---|---|
| • coordinates | 44°01′23″N 123°01′25″W |
| • elevation | 438 ft (134 m) |
| Mouth | Columbia River |
| • location | Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon |
What is the river that runs through downtown Portland?
Willamette River
The City of Portland covers only a tiny fraction of the entire river basin. All of Portland’s land eventually drains to the Columbia River. So, all Portlanders live in the Columbia River basin, and nearly all live in the Willamette River watershed.
What is the major river in Portland?
| Willamette River | |
|---|---|
| The Willamette passing through Downtown Portland in the 1980s | |
| A map of the Willamette River, its drainage basin, major tributaries and major cities | |
| Etymology | From a Clackamas Native American village name |
| Location |
What are two major rivers in Oregon?
Some of the major rivers in Oregon are the Columbia River, Snake River, and the Owyhee River. In fact, Oregon is bounded by the Columbia River in the north and Snake in the northeast. By far, Upper Klamath Lake is the largest lake in Oregon at 61,544 acres in area.
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.
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
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.
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.
How deep is the Columbia River in Portland?
The Columbia River channel begins at the Columbia River bar and continues five miles upriver at a depth of 55 feet and a width of 2,640 feet. After which, it maintains a depth of 43 feet and a width of 600 feet for 100 miles to the Portland Harbor.
Is the Columbia River freshwater or saltwater?
It is arguably the most important reach of the entire Columbia River, nurturing fish and wildlife in the transition from fresh water to salt water, passing through major cities and towns, flowing through wildlife refuges, supporting ports and a shipping channel, and providing valued recreation opportunities.
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.
What lives in the Columbia River?
Mammal species include, deer, bobcat, beaver, yellow-bellied marmot, black bear, California ground squirrel, along with amphibians and reptiles such as the Pacific tree frog and garter snake are common inhabitants. Many fish species can be found in the Columbia River, and salmon are well-known inhabitants.
What is the cleanest river in Oregon?
McKenzie River
Oregon’s McKenzie River has a lot to boast about. One of the cleanest and coldest rivers in the country, it’s the most important tributary for wild spring Chinook Salmon and Bull Trout production in the entire Willamette River Basin.
What is the longest river entirely in Oregon?
John Day River
The 281-mile-long John Day River in north-central Oregon is the longest river flowing entirely within the state, the longest undammed river in Oregon, and the third-longest undammed river in the continental United States.
What is the longest stream in the world water?
| Rank | River | Outflow |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nile–White Nile–Kagera–Nyabarongo–Mwogo–Rukarara | Mediterranean |
| 2. | Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Mantaro | Atlantic Ocean |
| 3. | Yangtze–Jinsha–Tongtian–Dangqu (Chang Jiang) | East China Sea |
| 4. | Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring | Gulf of Mexico |
Is it safe to eat fish from the Willamette River?
Do you fish in the Willamette River? Eating fish is good for you! However, some fish and shellfish in the Lower Willamette River through Portland contain contaminants that make them unsafe to eat. Contaminated fish do not look or act sick.
How Clean Is Portland water?
In summary, tap water in Portland is legally safe to drink but to be on the safe side, use an affordable active carbon filter such as TAPP 2. Active carbon removes Microplastics, TTHMs, cryptosporidium parasites and vastly reduces Arsenic and Chromium 6 highlighted as a risk by EWG.
Is Portland river clean?
Yes, it’s safe to swim in the Willamette most times of the year. DEQ and the city of Portland regularly monitor bacteria levels in the river. Data collected since 2012 show that bacteria are almost always at healthy levels in Portland.
Is there sewage in the Willamette River?
Combined sewer overflows to the Willamette River and Columbia Slough are rare. But when they do occur, Portlanders are advised to stay out of the water for 48 hours following a CSO due to higher levels of bacteria and other contaminants.
Can you swim in the Willamette River Eugene?
The Coast Fork Willamette River at Mount Pisgah has some great swimming holes and it’s only a ten minute drive from UO. You can easily go take a dip for a study break on a hot afternoon. The main swimming spot has an expansive pebble beach.