Cedar River (Willapa Bay) Explained

Cedar River
Map Size:300
Pushpin Map:USA Washington
Pushpin Map Size:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the mouth of the Cedar River in Washington
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:Washington
Subdivision Type4:County
Subdivision Name4:Pacific
Length:8miles[1]
Source1:Willapa Hills
Source1 Coordinates:46.7628°N -124.0547°W
Source1 Elevation:165feet[2]
Mouth:Willapa Bay
Mouth Location:Tokeland, Washington
Mouth Coordinates:46.7361°N -123.975°W
Mouth Elevation:0feet

The Cedar River is a short stream flowing into the north end of Willapa Bay in the U.S. state of Washington.

The Cedar River originates near Seastrand Ridge in the Willapa Hills, about a mile east of the Pacific Ocean near Heather and Grayland Beach State Park, just south of Grayland. It flows east, then south, for about 8miles until emptying into the northern end of Willapa Bay near Tokeland, just east of Dexter by the Sea.[3]

The river's lowermost course runs through part of the North Willapa Bay Wildlife Area Unit,[4] part of the Johns River Wildlife Area.[5]

The mouth of the Cedar River merges with Willapa Bay in a tidally-influenced estuary. There is a 275 acre protected unit called the Cedar River Estuary, managed by Forterra. This area is a tidal ecosystem with salt marshes, tidelands, and coniferous forests. It also includes Oyster Island, Bone Creek, and Norris Slough.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Measured using GNIS coordinates, Google Map, and ACME Mapper 2.2
  2. http://tools.freeside.sk/geolocator/geolocator.html GeoLocator
  3. USGS topographic maps accessed via https://mapper.acme.com
  4. Web site: North Willapa Bay Wildlife Area Unit. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. 1 September 2019.
  5. Web site: Johns River Wildlife Area. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. 1 September 2019.
  6. Web site: Shoreline Analysis Report for Shorelines in Pacific County. Washington State Department of Ecology. 1 September 2019.