- North Umpqua River
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North Umpqua River River 
Old Man Rock on the North Umpqua RiverCountry United States State Oregon Source Maidu Lake - elevation 5,980 ft (1,823 m) - coordinates 43°15′24″N 122°00′03″W / 43.256795°N 122.0008601°W Mouth Confluence of the North Umpqua and South Umpqua Rivers - coordinates 43°16′05″N 123°26′45″W / 43.2681707°N 123.4459121°W Length 106 mi (171 km) Basin 1,344 sq mi (3,481 km2) Discharge for Winchester - average 3,687 cu ft/s (104 m3/s) - max 150,000 cu ft/s (4,248 m3/s) - min 549 cu ft/s (16 m3/s) 
Umpqua River with tributariesThe North Umpqua River is a tributary of the Umpqua River, approximately 100 miles (161 km) long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains a scenic and rugged area of the Cascade Range southwest of Eugene, flowing through steep canyons and surrounded by large Douglas-fir forests. Renowned for its emerald green waters, it is considered one of the best fly fishing streams in the Northwest for anadromous fish.
Contents
Description
Deadline Falls near Idleyld Park
It rises in the high Cascades, issuing from Maidu Lake at elevation of 5,980 feet (1,823 m) in the Mount Thielsen Wilderness, along the Douglas-Klamath county line approximately 70 miles (113 km) east of Roseburg. It follows a serpentine course down from the Cascades, westward along the southern side of the Calapooya Mountains. Its upper course passes through the Umpqua National Forest, past Toketee Falls and Steamboat, where it receives Steamboat Creek from the north. It receives the Little River from the south at Glide and joins the South Umpqua from the east approximately 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Roseburg to form the Umpqua.
It is impounded in its upper reaches in the Cascades to form Lemolo Lake for hydroelectricity. It is also impounded for hydroelectricity at Soda Springs Dam, forming a small reservoir on the upper river.
The river's reputation as a world-class steelhead stream and its famous emerald waters are a result of the fact the river source is high enough in the Cascades to derive from snowmelt during the entire year. The melting snow is trapped in volcanic soil and pumice and released during the summer months, providing an even cool-temperature flow. During the summer the flow of the river is approximately 20 times that of the nearby South Umpqua. In its lower reaches, the river's flow becomes increasingly erratic, in a manner typical of mountain streams of the region.
The region around the river has long been a timber-producing area. Starting in 1955, the watershed of the river was extensively clear cut, a practice which continued until 1969 when forestry management practices were changed. During this period many tributary streambeds were used as impromptu logging roads. The recovery of the river from these practices has been closely monitored by state and federal agencies.
Recreation
In 1988 the United States Congress designated approximately 33 miles (53 km) of the river downstream from the Soda Springs Powerhouse as the North Umpqua Wild and Scenic River as part of the National Wild and Scenic River program.
The river is a popular destination for fly fishing and is renowned for emerald green waters and its summer steelhead activity, as well as for its salmon runs. Its summer steelhead fishery is considered one of the best on the West Coast. Moreover, the river is known for its high concentration of native steelhead relative to the fishery stock. It is also a popular but challenging destination for whitewater rafting.
North Umpqua Trail is a popular hiking and mountain biking destination.
See also
- List of rivers of Oregon
- List of longest streams of Oregon
- List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers
External links
Categories:- Rivers of Oregon
- Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States
- Landforms of Douglas County, Oregon
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