Elochoman River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elochoman River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Elochoman River in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Pacific |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Elochoman Lake Willapa Hills, Cowlitz County, Washington 1,654 ft (504 m) 46°20′20″N 123°12′43″W / 46.33889°N 123.21194°W |
| River mouth | Columbia River Elochoman Slough, Wahkiakum County, Washington 0 ft (0 m) 46°13′35″N 123°24′2″W / 46.22639°N 123.40056°W |
| Length | 15 mi (24 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 73 sq mi (190 km2) |
The Elochoman River is a river in the state of Washington, in the United States. It is about 15 miles (24 km) long.
This river is a tributary of the mighty Columbia River. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
The name "Elochoman" comes from an old village. This village belonged to the Cathlamet people. They were part of the larger Chinookan group.
Journey of the Elochoman River
The Elochoman River begins its journey at Elochoman Lake. This lake is located in Cowlitz County. From the lake, the river flows west for several miles.
As it travels, other streams join it. The East Fork and North Fork tributaries add their waters to the main river. After this, the river turns and flows south.
A few miles later, the West Fork tributary also joins the Elochoman. From there, the river continues flowing south and then southwest. Its valley starts to get wider. This wide, flat area is known as the Upper Elochoman Valley.
Next, the river goes through a short, narrow section. This is like a small canyon or "gorge." After the gorge, the river flows through the Lower Elochoman Valley. Here, it "meanders," which means it twists and turns in a winding path.
Near its end, the Elochoman River flows through special water channels. These are called "sloughs" and "wetlands." Wetlands are marshy areas where the land is often wet. These areas are part of the Columbia River's estuary. An estuary is where a river meets the sea, and fresh water mixes with salt water.
The river's mouth is on Elochoman Slough. This slough is a 3-mile (4.8 km) long side-channel of the Columbia River. It is located near Hunting Islands and the town of Cathlamet. A large part of the lower Elochoman River and its sloughs are important. They are part of the Columbian White-tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect special animals.
Amazing Fish and Wildlife
The Elochoman River is home to many different types of fish. It is especially known for its salmon. You can find Chinook, Coho, and Chum salmon here.
The river also supports "winter-run" steelhead trout. Steelhead are a type of rainbow trout that spend part of their lives in the ocean. They then return to freshwater rivers to lay their eggs.
Many people enjoy sport fishing in the Elochoman River. The steelhead trout are a big reason why. Over 1,000 steelhead often return to the river each year.
A very famous fish was caught here! The largest Chinook salmon ever caught in freshwater in Washington State was from this river. Mark Salmon caught it on October 5, 1992. That huge fish weighed 68 pounds and 4 ounces (about 31 kg).
