Little River (Coast Fork Willamette River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Little River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Calapooya Mountains near the border with Douglas County 2,333 ft (711 m) 43°32′33″N 123°01′07″W / 43.54250°N 123.01861°W |
| River mouth | Coast Fork Willamette River Confluence with Big River; near Black Butte 984 ft (300 m) 43°35′44″N 123°04′08″W / 43.59556°N 123.06889°W |
The Little River is a cool river located in the state of Oregon in the United States. It begins high up in the Calapooya Mountains. This area is close to the border between Lane and Douglas counties. The river flows generally towards the west and northwest. It eventually joins with the Big River. When these two rivers meet, they form the Coast Fork Willamette River near a place called Black Butte. Black Butte is a dark mountain that used to have a mine and a post office.
For a long time, on older maps, the Little River looked like it was a branch of Garoutte Creek. Garoutte Creek was also sometimes called Saroutte Creek. But in 1988, an important group called the United States Board on Geographic Names made a change. They decided that the lower part of Garoutte Creek would now be considered part of the Little River. This meant that the upper part of Garoutte Creek became a smaller stream that flows into the Little River.
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into the Little River along its path. From where the river starts to where it ends, these streams include Weyerhaeuser Creek, which joins from the right side. Cinnabar Creek flows in from the left, and Trail Creek from the right. Garoutte Creek and Blood Creek both join from the left. Finally, Dennis Creek flows into the Little River from the right side.
Black Butte Post Office History
In the 1890s, a mine called the Black Butte Mine was started by a person named S. P. Garoutte. Because of this mine, a post office was needed in the area. The first postmaster, William Harris, opened the office in 1898. It was named Harris after him.
In 1901, the post office's name was changed to Blackbutte. It continued to serve the community under this name for many years. The Blackbutte post office finally closed its doors for good in 1957.
Environmental Concerns: The Black Butte Mine Site
In recent times, the area around the old Black Butte Mine has become a Superfund site. This means the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to clean up pollution there. The EPA is worried about something called methylmercury getting into the water.
Methylmercury is a harmful substance that can pollute streams. It has been found in Garoutte Creek, the Little River, and the Coast Fork Willamette River. It's also a concern for the Cottage Grove Reservoir, which is on the Coast Fork.
The Black Butte Mine was a very busy place in its time. It was the second-biggest producer of mercury in all of Oregon. From 1900 to 1957, the mine produced a huge amount of mercury. This was about 16,904 flasks of pure mercury, which is equal to about 13 million pounds (about 5.9 million kilograms). The EPA is now working to make sure the environment around the old mine is safe.
