West Fork Smith River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids West Fork Smith River
Location of the mouth of the West Fork Smith River in Oregon
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Douglas
Physical characteristics
Main source	Central Oregon Coast Range near Roman Nose Mountain, Siuslaw National Forest 2,263 ft (690 m) 43°55′09″N 123°43′19″W / 43.91917°N 123.72194°W / 43.91917; -123.72194
River mouth	Smith River River mile 35 (river km 56) along the Smith River 249 ft (76 m) 43°48′22″N 123°46′00″W / 43.80611°N 123.76667°W / 43.80611; -123.76667
Length	10 mi (16 km)

The West Fork Smith River is a small river in Oregon, USA. It flows for about 10 miles (16 km) (16 kilometers). This river is a branch, or tributary, of the larger Smith River.

It is located in Douglas County. The river starts high up in the Central Oregon Coast Range mountains. It flows mostly south. The entire river runs through the beautiful Siuslaw National Forest.

River Life: Fish and More

The West Fork Smith River is home to many different types of fish. You can find Chinook and coho salmon here. These fish are famous for swimming upstream to lay their eggs.

Other fish living in the river include steelhead and cutthroat trout. You might also spot lamprey, which are unique, eel-like fish. People who enjoy sportfishing often describe this river as a "beautiful wild trout stream."

Helping the River: Restoration Efforts

In the past, the river faced some challenges. Activities like logging and using "splash dams" (old ways to move logs) caused damage. Also, people used to remove natural debris from the river. This made it harder for fish to live and reproduce.

Now, people are working to make the river healthy again. A group called the Partnership for Umpqua Rivers is leading this effort. They use money from state grants to help. They are placing thousands of large rocks, called boulders, into the riverbed.

Why Boulders Help Fish

Adding boulders helps the river in several ways:

• Spawning: The rocks create good places for fish to lay their eggs.
• Rearing: Young fish can grow up safely around the boulders.
• Refugia: The rocks provide hiding spots for fish from predators or strong currents.

This restoration project covers about 4.5-mile (7.2 km) (7.2 kilometers) of the river. It helps create better homes for all the fish.

Smaller Streams: Tributaries

Many smaller streams flow into the West Fork Smith River. These are called its tributaries. They add water to the main river.

The named tributaries, listed from where the river starts to where it ends, are:

• Gold Creek
• Beaver Creek
• Moore Creek
• Crane Creek
• Coon Creek