Wilson River | |
Map Size: | 300 |
Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Wilson River in Oregon |
Subdivision Type1: | Country |
Subdivision Name1: | United States |
Subdivision Type2: | State |
Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
Subdivision Type4: | County |
Subdivision Name4: | Tillamook County |
Length: | 33miles |
Discharge1 Min: | 32cuft/s |
Discharge1 Avg: | 1177cuft/s[1] |
Discharge1 Max: | 38600cuft/s |
Source1: | Northern Oregon Coast Range |
Source1 Location: | East of Tillamook |
Source1 Coordinates: | 45.6061°N -123.4625°W[2] |
Source1 Elevation: | 871feet[3] |
Mouth: | Tillamook Bay |
Mouth Location: | Oregon |
Mouth Coordinates: | 45.4789°N -123.89°W |
Mouth Elevation: | 0feet |
Basin Size: | 194sqmi[4] |
The Wilson River, about 33miles long, flows from the Northern Oregon Coast Range to Tillamook Bay in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of its Devil's Lake Fork and its South Fork, it runs generally west through the Tillamook State Forest to its mouth near the city of Tillamook.[5] [6] It is one of five rivers - the Tillamook, the Trask, the Wilson, the Kilchis, and the Miami - that flow into the bay.[7]
The river rises in the Tillamook State Forest in the mountains of northeastern Tillamook County. The river's North Fork rises in northern Tillamook County and flows south. Its South Fork rises in eastern Tillamook County and western Washington County[8] and flows west to merge with Devils Lake Fork. Further downstream, the Wilson River receives the North Fork near Lees Camp. It then flows southwest to Tillamook, entering the southeast end of Tillamook Bay about 3miles northwest of the city. The mouth of the river is about 1miles north of the mouth of the Trask River and slightly south of the mouth of the Kilchis River. Oregon Route 6, also known as the Wilson River Highway, runs parallel to the river and links the Tualatin Valley and the Portland metropolitan area with the Oregon Coast.[5] [6]
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) monitors the flow of the Wilson River at a stream gauge 9.3miles from the mouth of the river. The average flow at this gauge is 1177cuft/s. This is from a drainage area of 161sqmi, about 83 percent of the total Wilson River watershed. The maximum flow recorded there was 38600cuft/s on November 6, 2006, and the minimum flow was 32cuft/s on September 5, 1973, although it might have been less for a short while after a landslide on January 31, 1965.[1]
The Wilson River was part of the Willamette Valley flood of 1996 when it rose to 19.51 inches on February 8, damaging roads and farms and houses in Tillamook. Since then it has risen to its highest recorded reading of 22.84 inches on November 7, 2006.[9]
According to Fishing Oregon: An Angler's Guide to Oregon, the Wilson River is "one of the state's best steelhead and Chinook salmon fisheries".[10] Spring Chinook average about 20lb, fall Chinook from 25lb28lb, and Steelhead from 10lb12lb.[10] County-owned boat launches on the lower reaches and public access via Route 6 through the Tillamook State Forest make the river easily accessible to anglers. State regulations govern the seasons and methods of fishing.[10]