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Willamette River
The Willamette passing through downtown Portland
The Willamette passing through downtown Portland
Origin Oregon Coast Range and Cascade Range
Mouth Columbia River
Length 187 mi (301 km)
Source elevation 450 ft (140 m)
Mouth elevation sea level plus river stage
Avg. Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the Confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers The Oregon Coast Range is a Mountain range in the US state of Oregon along the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River (known as Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface discharge Annual:
33,816 cu ft/s (957. In Hydrology, the discharge or outflow of a River is the volume of Water transported by it in a certain amount of time A cubic foot per second (also cfs, cu ft/s, cusec and ft³/s) is an Imperial unit / U 6 m³/s)[1]

December:

67,800 cu ft/s (1,920 m³/s)

August:

8,480 cu ft/s (240 m³/s)[2]
Basin area 11,100 sq mi (29,000 km²)[3]

The Willamette River (pronounced wɨˈlæmɨt (help·info)) is a tributary of the Columbia River, 187 miles (301 km) long,[4] in northwestern Oregon in the United States. A cubic metre per second ( m3·s&minus1, m3/s, cumecs or cubic meter per second in American English A tributary is a Stream or River which flows into a mainstem (or parent river The Columbia River (known as Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Flowing northward between the Coastal Range and Cascade Range, the river and its tributaries form a basin called the Willamette Valley containing 70% of Oregon's population,[5] including its largest city Portland, which sits along both sides of the river near its mouth on the Columbia. A Coastal range is any range of mountains forming a coastline The Willamette Valley () is the region in northwest Oregon in the United States that surrounds the Willamette River as it proceeds northward from its emergence Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the Confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers Its lush valley is fed by prolific rainfall on the western side of the Cascades, forming one of the most fertile agricultural regions of North America that was the destination for many if not most of the emigrants along the Oregon Trail. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the The river was an important transportation route throughout much of the early history of the state, furnishing a means of conveying the vast timber and agricultural resources of the state to the outside world.

Part of the river's floodplain (the Willamette Floodplain) was established as a National Natural Landmark in 1987; ten years later the river was named as one of ten national American Heritage Rivers. ||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||}A floodplain, or flood plain, is flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a Stream or River that experiences occasional or periodic The Willamette Floodplain is the part of the Willamette River Floodplain which was made a National Natural Landmark in May 1987. The National Natural Landmark (NNL program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the United States ' natural history American Heritage Rivers are designated bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency to receive special attention (coordinating efforts of multiple governmental entities

Contents

Description

The Willamette River at Harrisburg
The Willamette River at Harrisburg

The Willamette rises in three separate forks in the mountains south and southeast of Eugene, at the southern end of the Willamette Valley. Harrisburg is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2795 at the 2000 census The city of Eugene ( "yoo-JEEN") is the County seat of Lane County, Oregon, The Middle Fork and North Fork rise on the western side of the Cascades between Three Sisters south to Diamond Peak, with the Middle Fork receiving the North Fork northwest of Oakridge and flowing northwest through the mountains to the southern end of the Willamette Valley. The Middle Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River in the western part of the U The North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River as it is officially named but frequently called North Fork of the Willamette River or North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette The Three Sisters are three volcanic peaks of the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the Cascade Range in Oregon, each of which exceed in elevation Diamond Peak is a Shield volcano in south west Oregon and is part of the Cascade Range. Oakridge is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3148 at the 2000 census The Coast Fork rises in the lower mountains south of Cottage Grove, flowing north to join the Middle Fork 2 mi (3. The Coast Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River in western Oregon in the United States Cottage Grove is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. 2 km) southeast of Eugene.

Map of the Willamette River watershed
Map of the Willamette River watershed

From Eugene, the combined river flows NNW across the plain of the southern Willamette Valley to Corvallis, then follows a zigzag course past Albany and around the isolated hills in the central valley, passing west of downtown Salem. Corvallis (kÉ”rˈvælɪs is a City located in central western Oregon, United States. Albany is a city in Benton and Linn Counties in the western part of the U Salem (ˈseɪlÉ™m is the Capital of the US state of Oregon, and the County seat of Marion County. From Salem it flows north in a meandering course across the northwest plain of the valley, reaching the hills at Newberg, where it turns sharply ENE along the hills, passing through an opening in the hills at Oregon City, the location of the Willamette Falls and the head of navigation. A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse also known as an oxbow loop or simply an Oxbow. Newberg is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. A tradition holds that this town was named by its first postmaster Sebastian Brutscher for Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated The Willamette Falls is a natural Waterfall on the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn Oregon, in the United States From Oregon City it flows northwest, past Lake Oswego and Milwaukie on the south edge of Portland, then passing between east and west Portland, where it is spanned by a series of urban bridges. Lake Oswego (É’sˈwiËÉ¡oÊŠ is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U Milwaukie (mɪlˈwÉ”Ëki is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Downstream of downtown Portland it flows northwest through the industrial port area of Portland Harbor, then splitting into two channels around Sauvie Island, both of which hook around to enter the Columbia from the west, with the main channel entering on the north edge of Portland and the smaller Multnomah Channel entering approximately 15 mi (24 km) NNW at St. Helens. Sauvie Island, in the US state of Oregon, is the largest Island along the Columbia River, at 26000 acres (105 km² Multnomah Channel is a branch of the Willamette River a few miles upstream of the Willamette's convergence with the Columbia River. St Helens is the county seat of Columbia County Oregon. It was founded by Captain H

Tributaries of the Willamette River
Tributaries of the Willamette River

The river's many tributaries drain the surrounding valley as well as portions of the Cascades and the Coastal Range. Downstream from the confluence of its forks, it is joined by McKenzie on the north side of Eugene, and by the Long Tom River from the southwest approximately 10 mi (16 km) south of Corvallis. USACE Cougar Dam McKenzie Riverjpg|thumb|Cougar Dam and reservoir on the McKenzie River]]The McKenzie River is a tributary of the Willamette River, 86 miles (138 km long in USACE Fern Ridge Dam Oregonjpg|thumb|Fern Ridge Dam impounding Fern Ridge Reservoir It is joined by the Marys from the west at Corvallis, and the Calapooia from the southeast 5 mi (8 km) northeast of Corvallis, and It is joined by the Santiam from the east and the Luckiamute from the west within 1 mi (1. Marys River (formerly Mary's River, and sometimes still spelled this way is a tributary of the Willamette River in western Oregon, starting near Corvallis The Calapooia River is a tributary of the Willamette River in the U The Santiam River (san-tee-AM is a tributary of the Willamette River, approximately 10 miles (16 km long in western Oregon in the United States. The Luckiamute River is a tributary of the Willamette River, approximately 30 mi (48 km long in western Oregon in the United States. 6 km) of each other approximately 5 mi (8 km) north of Albany. It is joined by the Yamhill from the west at Dayton, by the Molalla from the southeast near Canby, by the Tualatin from the west at West Linn, and by the Clackamas from the southeast at Gladstone. The Yamhill River is a tributary of the Willamette River, approximately 12 miles (19 km long in northwestern Oregon in the United States. Dayton is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2119 at the 2000 census The Molalla River is a Tributary of the Willamette River in the U Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 12790 at the 2000 census The Tualatin River is a tributary of the Willamette River located in Oregon in the United States. West Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The Clackamas River is a tributary about long of the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon in the United States. Gladstone is a city located in Clackamas County Oregon, United States.

The river forms part of the boundary of the following counties: Benton, Linn, Polk, Marion, Yamhill and Clackamas. Benton County is a county located in the US state of Oregon. The county was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U Linn County is a county located in the US state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F Polk County is a county located in the US state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the Marion County is a county located in the US state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg Yamhill County is a county located in the US state of Oregon. Clackamas County (ˈklækəmɪs is a county located in the US Tributaries of the Willamette River also drain some or all of Lane, Washington and Multnomah counties. Lane County is a county in the US state of Oregon. In 2000 its population was 322959 Washington County is one of 36 counties in the US state of Oregon. Multnomah County (məltˈnoʊmə is one of 36 counties in the U

Although riverboats navigated the upstream part of the Willamette into the first decades of the 20th century, currently there is little commercial traffic on the river above the Willamette Falls. A riverboat is Ship designed for Inland navigation. These vessels are usually less sturdy than ships built for the open seas with limited navigational and The Willamette Falls is a natural Waterfall on the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn Oregon, in the United States The Willamette Falls Locks allow boat traffic, primarily recreational vessels, around the falls. USACE Willamette Falls Locks Oregonjpg|thumb|Willamette Falls Locks The river is crossed by three ferries along its route in the Willamette Valley. The three ferries are located (from south to north) at Buena Vista, Wheatland, and Canby. The only locks on the river are located at Oregon City.

The Willamette River is prone to periodic floods. Notable floods include events in 1861 (which destroyed Linn City, Oregon), 1899, 1964, and the Willamette Valley Flood of 1996. Linn City was a community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, that existed from 1843-1861 The Willamette Valley Flood of 1996 was part of a larger series of Floods in the Pacific Northwest of the United States which took place between late January

The river below Willamette Falls is subject to semidiurnal tides caused by the Pacific Ocean, but also with the effects of dams on the Columbia River and Willamette river basin which are regulated for hydroelectric power generation. Characteristics A tide is a repeated cycle of sea level changes in the following stages Over several hours the water rises or advances up a beach in the flood The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The Columbia River (known as Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water Reverse flow has been observed as far upstream as Ross Island (river mile 15). A River mile is a measure of distance in Miles along a River from its mouth. [6]

The lower river flow rate varies considerably by season and due to weather. Warm winter rains, for example, cause extensive mountain snow melt which significantly raises the river level and flow rate. The Willamette Valley Flood of 1996 was an extreme combination of saturated ground, snow melt and heavy rain: The maximum flow rate is not known, however 283,000 cubic feet per second (8010 m³/s) was estimated on January 18, 1974 at river stage 23. The Willamette Valley Flood of 1996 was part of a larger series of Floods in the Pacific Northwest of the United States which took place between late January Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. 84 feet (7. 27 m). The peak river stage (measured at the Morrison Bridge gauge in downtown Portland) on February 9, 1996 was 27. Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) 74 feet (8. 46 m). Flood stage is 18. A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land a deluge 0 feet (5. 5 m). The other extreme occurred during a drought on July 10, 1978 at 4,200 cu ft/s (120 m³/s). Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) [3] The Willamette's mean discharge rate is approximately 32,000 cu ft/s (910 m³/s). [7]

Environmental issues

The Portland Harbor section of the Willamette River between downtown Portland and its terminus at the Columbia River is heavily polluted from years of industrial development of the river and its banks. Historical and current activities include shipbuilding, creosote manufacture, lead processing, and transfer and storage of petroleum products. See also Shipbuilding (song. Shipbuilding is the construction of Ships It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a Creosote is the name used for a variety of products including wood creosote and coal tar creosote. Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετÏέλαιον, lit State studies in the 1990s identified a wide variety of pollutants in the river bottom, including heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides. Polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCB s are a class of Organic compounds with 1 to 10 Chlorine atoms attached to Biphenyl which is a molecule composed A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. As a result of these studies, this section of the river was designated a Superfund site in 2000,[8] involving the United States Environmental Protection Agency in cleanup of the river bottom. Superfund is the common name for the United States environmental policy officially known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act [9] The initial cleanup and containment of the pollutants is focused on the portion between Swan Island and Sauvie Island. Overlook is a neighborhood in the North section of Portland Oregon on the east shore of the Willamette River. Sauvie Island, in the US state of Oregon, is the largest Island along the Columbia River, at 26000 acres (105 km² [10]

The Superfund site is downstream from most of the river however and lies less than twelve miles from where the Willamette ends at the Columbia river. Further upstream the pressing environmental issues have been mainly variations in pH and dissolved oxygen. [11] In the Portland Metropolitan Area, these issues are exacerbated by sewer overflow events during periods of high rainfall. The city has embarked on expanding the sewer system in order to minimize these events through construction of the Big Pipe Project part of the river renaissance project.

Even further upstream however, the Willamette is not heavily polluted and is used by communities, such as the City of Tigard, for drinking water. Tigard (ˈtaɪgərd is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The major contaminants are from agricultural runoff.

Big Pipe Project

Following an agreement between the City of Portland and the State of Oregon to reduce Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) dramatically in 1991,[12] the Office of Sustainable Development began work on what it dubbed the "Big Pipe Project". A combined sewer is a type of Sewer system which provides partially separated channels for sanitary Sewage and Stormwater runoff.

The project consisted primarily of two large pipes on either side of the river. The project was part of a larger effort by the Bureau of Environmental Services to reduce CSOs through a series of combined efforts, which had already netted results of a 53% reduction in CSO volume by 2003. [12]

The west side pipe, which is approximately 14 feet in diameter and travels from SW Clay Street to the Swan Island Pumping Station, was completed in 2006. [12][13] The pipe connects to the Southwest Parallel Interceptor, another pipe project approximately six feet in diameter, at SW Clay Street, which then continues on south for several more miles, covering the Portland Metro South Waterfront area.

As of June 2008, the east side pipe is under construction and is slated for completion in December 2011. [14] The pipe, like its cousin, will connect to the Swan Island Pumping Station, but will extend a full six miles south down the east bank. [15] The east side pipe, serving a much larger segment of population, is 22 feet wide and will be able to hold over 83 million gallons of storm water and sewage. [15][14]

Together the pipes and other CSO projects will provide a 94% reduction in CSO volume by 2011, dramatically reducing one of the largest pollutants of the Willamette River. [15][14]

The Willamette River as it passes through Portland, Oregon
The Willamette River as it passes through Portland, Oregon

See also

References

  1. ^ Loy, Willam G. This is a list of Bridges and other crossings of the Willamette River in the U This is a partial listing of rivers in the state of Oregon, United States of America. Oregon Country or Oregon (to be distinguished from the American State also called Oregon) was a predominantly American term referring to The Willamette River flows northwards down the Willamette Valley until it meets the Columbia River at a point 101 miles from the Pacific Ocean, in the ; Stuart Allan, Aileen R. Buckley, James E. Meecham (2001). Atlas of Oregon. University of Oregon Press, 164-165. ISBN 0-87114-102-7.  
  2. ^ USGS Surface-Water Monthly Statistics. USGS. The United States Geological Survey ( USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. Retrieved on 2006-08-20. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine
  3. ^ a b National Water Information System. USGS. The United States Geological Survey ( USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. Retrieved on 2006-08-20. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine
  4. ^ 187 miles is to the Coast Fork and Middle Fork junction. Including the longest tributary, the Willamette is approximately 240 miles (390 km).
  5. ^ Willamette Basin Alternative Futures Analysis (PDF). U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (August, 2002). Retrieved on 2006-11-16. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published
  6. ^ Caldwell, James M. ; Micelis C. Doyle. Sediment Oxygen Demand in the Lower Willamette River, Oregon, 1994 (PDF) 4. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved on 2006-11-16. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published
  7. ^ Willamette River Info.. Willamette Riverkeeper. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival
  8. ^ Lee van der Voo. "History of a Superfund cleanup bid", Portland Tribune, July 3, 2007. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 2008-02-12. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the  
  9. ^ Portland Harbor Superfund Site. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion
  10. ^ Region 10 Cleanup: Portland Harbor. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved on 2008-02-12. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the
  11. ^ Processes Controlling Dissolved Oxygen and pH in the Upper Willamette River Basin (PDF). U. S. Geological Survey (1994). Retrieved on 2008-02-12. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the
  12. ^ a b c Northwest Construction. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering
  13. ^ West Side CSO Tunnel Project. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering
  14. ^ a b c East Side CSO Tunnel Project. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering
  15. ^ a b c "A big pipe", 2007-12-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering  

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