Coast Fork Willamette River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coast Fork Willamette River |
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The Coast Fork Willamette River
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Map of the Willamette River basin with the Coast Fork highlighted
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 Location of the mouth of the Coast Fork Willamette River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of Big River and Garoutte Creek Calapooya Mountains, Oregon 990 ft (300 m) 43°35′44″N 123°4′4″W / 43.59556°N 123.06778°W |
| River mouth | Willamette River near Eugene and Springfield, Oregon 436 ft (133 m) 44°1′23″N 123°1′25″W / 44.02306°N 123.02361°W |
| Length | 40 mi (64 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 666 sq mi (1,720 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The Coast Fork Willamette River is an important river in Oregon, United States. It's one of two main "forks" or branches that come together to form the larger Willamette River. This river is about 40 miles (64 km) long. It helps drain water from the mountains at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, an area south of the city of Eugene.
Contents
Journey of the Coast Fork Willamette River
Where the River Begins
The Coast Fork Willamette River starts in the southwestern part of Lane County. It begins high up in the Calapooya Mountains. Here, two smaller rivers, the Little River and the Big River, meet and combine their waters. This meeting point is called a "confluence."
Flowing North Through Oregon
From its start, the Coast Fork flows north through the mountains. Along its path, it flows into a large body of water called Cottage Grove Lake. This lake is actually a reservoir, which is like a big, artificial lake created by a dam. After the reservoir, the river continues its journey to the town of Cottage Grove.
Near Cottage Grove, another river called the Row River joins the Coast Fork from the southeast. The Coast Fork then keeps flowing north, passing by the town of Creswell.
Joining the Willamette River
Finally, the Coast Fork Willamette River meets up with the Middle Fork Willamette River. The Middle Fork flows in from the south. These two forks join together about 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Eugene. When they meet, they officially form the main Willamette River.
