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Coordinates: 43°04′49″N 124°08′29″W / 43.08028°N 124.14139°W / 43.08028; -124.14139
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{{Infobox river
{{Geobox|River
| name = South Fork Coquille River
<!-- *** Heading *** -->
| name_native =
| name = South Fork Coquille River
| native_name =
| name_native_lang =
| other_name =
| name_other =
| category =
| name_etymology =
<!-- *** Names **** -->
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image = Coquille_river_falls.jpg
| etymology =
| image_caption = The lower tier of [[Coquille River Falls]] at low water
| nickname =
| image_size = 300
<!-- *** Image *** -->
| map =
| image = Coquille_river_falls.jpg
| map_size = 300
| image_caption =The lower tier of Coquille River Falls at low water
| map_caption =
| image_size =
| pushpin_map = USA Oregon
<!-- *** Country *** -->
| pushpin_map_size = 300
| country = United States
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the South Fork Coquille River in Oregon
| state = Oregon
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| region = [[Coos County, Oregon|Coos County]]
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| district =
| subdivision_name1 = [[United States]]
| municipality =
| subdivision_type2 = State
<!-- *** Family *** -->
| subdivision_name2 = [[Oregon]]
| parent =
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| tributary_left = Johnson Creek
| subdivision_name3 = [[Coos County, Oregon|Coos County]]
| tributary_left1 = Salmon Creek
| subdivision_type4 =
| tributary_left2 = Dement Creek
| subdivision_name4 =
| tributary_left3 = Catching Creek
| subdivision_type5 = Cities
| tributary_right = Wooden Rock Creek
| subdivision_name5 = [[Powers, Oregon|Powers]], [[Broadbent, Oregon|Broadbent]], [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]]
| tributary_right1 = Coal Creek
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| tributary_right2 = Woodward Creek
| length = {{convert|62.8|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| tributary_right3 = Middle Fork Coquille River
| width_min =
| city = [[Powers, Oregon|Powers]]
| width_avg =
| city1 = [[Broadbent, Oregon|Broadbent]]
| width_max =
| city2 = [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]]
| landmark =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| river =
| depth_max =
<!-- *** River locations *** -->
| discharge1_location= [[Powers, Oregon|Powers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/14325000.2009.pdf|format=PDF|title=Water-Data Report 2009: 14325000 South Fork Coquille River at Powers, OR|publisher=United States Geological Survey|accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref>
| source = [[Oregon Coast Range]]
| discharge1_min = {{convert|7.2|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| source_location = Unnamed ridge
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|778|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/14325000.2009.pdf|format=PDF|title=Water-Data Report 2009: 14325000 South Fork Coquille River at Powers, OR|publisher=United States Geological Survey|accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref>
| source_region = north of [[Mount Bolivar]]
| discharge1_max = {{convert|48900|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| source_country =
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source_elevation_imperial = 3410
| source1 = [[Southern Oregon Coast Range]]
| source_lat_d = 42
| source1_location = Unnamed ridge, north of Mount Bolivar
| source_lat_m = 50
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|42|50|24|N|123|52|30|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis|id=1149958|name=South Fork Coquille River|entrydate=November 28, 1980|accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref>
| source_lat_s = 24
| source1_elevation = {{convert|3501|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="source">Source elevation derived from [[Google Earth]] search using GNIS source coordinates.</ref>
| source_lat_NS = N
| mouth = [[Coquille River (Oregon)|Coquille River]]
| source_long_d = 123
| mouth_location = [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]]
| source_long_m = 52
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|43|04|49|N|124|08|29|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="gnis"/>
| source_long_s = 30
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|13|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/>
| source_long_EW = W
| progression =
| source_coordinates_note = <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis|id=1149958|name=South Fork Coquille River|entrydate=1980-11-28|accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref>
| river_system =
| mouth = [[Coquille River]]
| basin_size = {{convert|288|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="coquille facts">{{cite web|title=Introduction to the Coquille Watershed|url=http://www.coquillewatershed.org/Coquille_Facts.html|publisher=Coquille Watershed Association|accessdate=February 21, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117211548/http://www.coquillewatershed.org/Coquille_Facts.html|archivedate=November 17, 2016}}</ref>
| mouth_location = [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]]
| tributaries_left = [[Johnson Creek (South Fork Coquille River)|Johnson Creek]], [[Salmon Creek (Oregon)|Salmon Creek]], Dement Creek, Catching Creek
| mouth_region =
| tributaries_right = Wooden Rock Creek, [[Coal Creek (Oregon)|Coal Creek]], Woodward Creek, [[Middle Fork Coquille River]]
| mouth_country =
| custom_label =
| mouth_elevation_imperial = 13
| custom_data =
| mouth_lat_d = 43
| extra =
| mouth_lat_m = 04
| mouth_lat_s = 49
| mouth_lat_NS = N
| mouth_long_d = 124
| mouth_long_m = 08
| mouth_long_s = 29
| mouth_long_EW = W
| mouth_coordinates_note = <ref name="GNIS"/>
<!-- *** Dimensions *** -->
| length_imperial = 62.8| length_orientation =
| width_imperial = | width_orientation =
| depth_imperial =
| volume_imperial =
| watershed_imperial = 600
| watershed_note =
| discharge_imperial = 778
| discharge_location = [[Powers, Oregon|Powers, OR]]
| discharge_max_imperial = 48900
| discharge_min_imperial = 7.2
| discharge_note = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/14325000.2009.pdf|title=USGS Gage #14325000 on the South Fork Coquille River at Powers, OR|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|work=National Water Information System|date=1917-present|accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref>
<!-- *** Free fields *** -->
| free = | free_type =
<!-- *** Maps *** -->
| map =
| map_caption =
| map_background =
| map_locator =
| map_locator_x =
| map_locator_y =
<!-- *** Website *** -->
| website =
| commons =
<!-- *** Footnotes *** -->
| footnotes =
}}
}}


The '''South Fork Coquille River''' is the largest tributary of the [[Coquille River]] in coastal [[Oregon]] in the [[United States]]. From its headwaters in the [[Oregon Coast Range]], the river flows northwest to join the [[North Fork Coquille River]] at [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]], forming the main stem Coquille. The South Fork is about {{convert|62.8|mi|km}} long, and its [[Drainage basin|watershed]] drains roughly {{convert|600|mi2|km2}} of rural [[Coos County, Oregon|Coos County]].
The '''South Fork Coquille River''' is the longest tributary of the [[Coquille River (Oregon)|Coquille River]] in coastal [[Oregon]] in the United States.<ref name="coquille facts"/> From its headwaters in the [[Southern Oregon Coast Range]], the river flows northwest to join the [[North Fork Coquille River]] at [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]], forming the main stem Coquille.<ref name="topo map">{{cite web|title=United States Topographic Map|publisher=United States Geological Survey|via=Acme Mapper|url=http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=43.105833,-124.076667&z=12&t=T&marker0=43.105833,-124.076667|accessdate=February 21, 2016}} The map includes mile markers along the [[main stem]] and each large Coquille River [[river fork|fork]].</ref> The South Fork is about {{convert|63|mi|km}} long, and its [[Drainage basin|watershed]] drains roughly {{convert|288|mi2|km2}} of rural [[Coos County, Oregon|Coos County]].<ref name="coquille facts"/>


==Course==
It rises as a small stream draining out of Eden Valley, {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} miles northwest of [[Mount Bolivar]] in the [[Siskiyou National Forest]]. Picking up scores of tributaries, such as Wooden Rock, Clear and Panther Creeks, the river gains volume as it rumbles southwest into a deep gorge. At the confluence with Rock Creek, the river abruptly swings north, receiving Johnson Creek from the left a few miles further downstream. Now a fairly large stream, the South Fork winds through canyons to the confluence with Coal Creek before entering an [[Alluvium|alluvial]] valley near the small community of [[Powers, Oregon|Powers]].<ref name="ACME">{{cite map
The South Fork rises as a small stream draining out of Eden Valley, {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} northwest of [[Mount Bolivar]] in the [[Siskiyou National Forest]]. Picking up scores of tributaries, such as Wooden Rock, Clear and Panther Creeks, the river gains volume as it flows southwest into a deep gorge. At the confluence with Rock Creek, the river abruptly swings north, receiving Johnson Creek from the left a few miles further downstream. Now a fairly large stream, the South Fork winds through canyons to the confluence with Coal Creek before entering an [[Alluvium|alluvial]] valley near the small community of [[Powers, Oregon|Powers]].<ref name="topo map"/>
|publisher=ACME Mapper
|title=USGS Topo Maps for United States
|year=
|cartography=[[United States Geological Survey]]
|accessdate=2011-03-18
|url=http://mapper.acme.com/}}</ref>


Below the city, the South Fork flows north through a canyon into another broad valley, now followed by [[Oregon Route 542]], and passing [[Coquille Myrtle Grove State Park]] and [[Albert H. Powers Memorial State Park]]. About a mile downstream, Dement Creek enters from the left and the terrain around the river transforms from hills to farmland. As it assumes a meandering course, the river passes [[Broadbent, Oregon|Broadbent]], then the [[Middle Fork Coquille River]], by far the largest tributary, enters from the right, marking the [[head of tide]]. A few miles onward, the river passes [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]] and meets the North Fork to form the Coquille River, {{convert|36.3|mi|km}} upstream of the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref name="ACME"/>
Below the city, the South Fork flows north through a canyon into another broad valley, now followed by [[Oregon Route 542]], and passing [[Coquille Myrtle Grove State Natural Site]] and [[Albert H. Powers Memorial State Park]]. About a mile downstream, Dement Creek enters from the left and the terrain around the river transforms from hills to farmland. As it assumes a meandering course, the river passes [[Broadbent, Oregon|Broadbent]], then the [[Middle Fork Coquille River]], by far the largest tributary, enters from the right, marking the [[head of tide]]. A few miles onward, the river passes [[Myrtle Point, Oregon|Myrtle Point]] and meets the North Fork to form the Coquille River about {{convert|36|mi|km}} upstream of the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref name="topo map"/>


The South Fork Coquille River has two major waterfalls, situated in a steep and remote canyon just upstream of the first major northward bend of its course. These are the {{convert|35|ft|m|adj=on}} Upper Coquille River Falls,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/waterfall.php?num=2146|title=Upper Coquille River Falls|publisher=Northwest Waterfall Survey|date=2008-01-12|accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref> and the much larger {{convert|110|ft|m|adj=on}} Coquille River Falls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/waterfall.php?st=OR&num=2145|title=Coquille River Falls|publisher=Northwest Waterfall Survey|date=2007-09-01|accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref>
The South Fork Coquille River has two major waterfalls, situated in a steep and remote canyon just upstream of the first major northward bend of its course. These are the {{convert|35|ft|m|adj=on}} Upper Coquille River Falls,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/waterfall.php?num=2146|title=Upper Coquille River Falls|publisher=Northwest Waterfall Survey|date=January 12, 2008|accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref> and the much larger {{convert|110|ft|m|adj=on}} [[Coquille River Falls]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/waterfall.php?st=OR&num=2145|title=Coquille River Falls|publisher=Northwest Waterfall Survey|date=September 1, 2007 |accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref>


==Watershed==
The watershed is sparsely populated, with most of the people concentrated in the towns of Powers and Myrtle Point. [[Anadromous fish]] including [[salmon]] and [[steelhead]] inhabit much of the river, but some habitat has been compromised due to poor watershed management practices such as excessive [[logging]] and clearing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificwatersheds.net/ontheground/coquille.htm|title=Coquille River Watershed|publisher=Pacific Coast Watershed Partnership|date=|accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://fs.fed.us/r6/fishing/regional/habitat/FinalBusPlans/RRS_SFC_ARP.doc|title=South Fork Coquille Watershed Aquatic Restoration Plan|publisher=U.S. Forest Service|date=2007-08|accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref>
The watershed is sparsely populated, with most of the people concentrated in the towns of Powers and Myrtle Point. [[Anadromous fish]] including [[salmon]] and [[Rainbow trout|steelhead]] inhabit much of the river, but some habitat has been compromised due to poor watershed management practices such as excessive [[logging]] and clearing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificwatersheds.net/ontheground/coquille.htm|title=Coquille River Watershed|publisher=Pacific Coast Watershed Partnership|accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://fs.fed.us/r6/fishing/regional/habitat/FinalBusPlans/RRS_SFC_ARP.doc|title=South Fork Coquille Watershed Aquatic Restoration Plan|publisher=U.S. Forest Service|date=August 2007|accessdate=March 18, 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of longest streams of Oregon]]
*[[List of rivers of Oregon]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.coquillewatershed.org/ Coquille Watershed Association]

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Rivers of Oregon]]
[[Category:Rivers of Oregon]]
[[Category:Landforms of Coos County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Rivers of Coos County, Oregon]]

Latest revision as of 03:01, 11 May 2020

South Fork Coquille River
The lower tier of Coquille River Falls at low water
South Fork Coquille River is located in Oregon
South Fork Coquille River
Location of the mouth of the South Fork Coquille River in Oregon
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
RegionCoos County
CitiesPowers, Broadbent, Myrtle Point
Physical characteristics
SourceSouthern Oregon Coast Range
 • locationUnnamed ridge, north of Mount Bolivar
 • coordinates42°50′24″N 123°52′30″W / 42.84000°N 123.87500°W / 42.84000; -123.87500[1]
 • elevation3,501 ft (1,067 m)[2]
MouthCoquille River
 • location
Myrtle Point
 • coordinates
43°04′49″N 124°08′29″W / 43.08028°N 124.14139°W / 43.08028; -124.14139[1]
 • elevation
13 ft (4.0 m)[1]
Length62.8 mi (101.1 km)
Basin size288 sq mi (750 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationPowers[4]
 • average778 cu ft/s (22.0 m3/s)[5]
 • minimum7.2 cu ft/s (0.20 m3/s)
 • maximum48,900 cu ft/s (1,380 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftJohnson Creek, Salmon Creek, Dement Creek, Catching Creek
 • rightWooden Rock Creek, Coal Creek, Woodward Creek, Middle Fork Coquille River

The South Fork Coquille River is the longest tributary of the Coquille River in coastal Oregon in the United States.[3] From its headwaters in the Southern Oregon Coast Range, the river flows northwest to join the North Fork Coquille River at Myrtle Point, forming the main stem Coquille.[6] The South Fork is about 63 miles (101 km) long, and its watershed drains roughly 288 square miles (750 km2) of rural Coos County.[3]

Course

[edit]

The South Fork rises as a small stream draining out of Eden Valley, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) northwest of Mount Bolivar in the Siskiyou National Forest. Picking up scores of tributaries, such as Wooden Rock, Clear and Panther Creeks, the river gains volume as it flows southwest into a deep gorge. At the confluence with Rock Creek, the river abruptly swings north, receiving Johnson Creek from the left a few miles further downstream. Now a fairly large stream, the South Fork winds through canyons to the confluence with Coal Creek before entering an alluvial valley near the small community of Powers.[6]

Below the city, the South Fork flows north through a canyon into another broad valley, now followed by Oregon Route 542, and passing Coquille Myrtle Grove State Natural Site and Albert H. Powers Memorial State Park. About a mile downstream, Dement Creek enters from the left and the terrain around the river transforms from hills to farmland. As it assumes a meandering course, the river passes Broadbent, then the Middle Fork Coquille River, by far the largest tributary, enters from the right, marking the head of tide. A few miles onward, the river passes Myrtle Point and meets the North Fork to form the Coquille River about 36 miles (58 km) upstream of the Pacific Ocean.[6]

The South Fork Coquille River has two major waterfalls, situated in a steep and remote canyon just upstream of the first major northward bend of its course. These are the 35-foot (11 m) Upper Coquille River Falls,[7] and the much larger 110-foot (34 m) Coquille River Falls.[8]

Watershed

[edit]

The watershed is sparsely populated, with most of the people concentrated in the towns of Powers and Myrtle Point. Anadromous fish including salmon and steelhead inhabit much of the river, but some habitat has been compromised due to poor watershed management practices such as excessive logging and clearing.[9][10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "South Fork Coquille River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  2. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. ^ a b c "Introduction to the Coquille Watershed". Coquille Watershed Association. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  4. ^ "Water-Data Report 2009: 14325000 South Fork Coquille River at Powers, OR" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  5. ^ "Water-Data Report 2009: 14325000 South Fork Coquille River at Powers, OR" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 21, 2016 – via Acme Mapper. The map includes mile markers along the main stem and each large Coquille River fork.
  7. ^ "Upper Coquille River Falls". Northwest Waterfall Survey. January 12, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  8. ^ "Coquille River Falls". Northwest Waterfall Survey. September 1, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  9. ^ "Coquille River Watershed". Pacific Coast Watershed Partnership. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  10. ^ "South Fork Coquille Watershed Aquatic Restoration Plan". U.S. Forest Service. August 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
[edit]
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