| West Fork Smith River | |
| Name Etymology: | Jedediah Smith, early 19th century explorer[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the West Fork Smith River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Douglas |
| Length: | 10miles[2] |
| Source1: | Central Oregon Coast Range |
| Source1 Location: | near Roman Nose Mountain, Siuslaw National Forest |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 43.9192°N -123.7219°W[3] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 2263feet[4] |
| Mouth: | Smith River |
| Mouth Location: | River mile 35 (river km 56) along the Smith River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 43.8061°N -123.7667°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 249feet |
The West Fork Smith River is a tributary, about 10miles long, of the Smith River in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins in the Central Oregon Coast Range near Roman Nose Mountain and flows generally south to meet the larger river 35miles from its confluence with the Umpqua River near Reedsport. The entire course of the river lies within the Siuslaw National Forest.[5]
The river supports populations of Chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, cutthroat trout, and lamprey.[6] Fishing in Oregon, a sportfishing guide, describes the river as "a beautiful wild trout stream".[2]
Degraded in past decades by logging, splash dams, and in-stream debris removal, the stream has been chosen for restoration.[6] Using grant money from the state, the Partnership for Umpqua Rivers has been placing thousands of boulders in the streambed to improve the spawning, rearing, and refugia habitat for fish. The project involves a 4.5miles stretch of the river.[6]
The named tributaries of the West Fork Smith River from source to mouth are Gold, Beaver, Moore, Crane, and Coon creeks.[5]