South Fork McKenzie River
| South Fork McKenzie River | |
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Source | near Mink Lake |
| - location | Three Sisters Wilderness, Cascade Range |
| - elevation | 4,559 ft (1,390 m) |
| - coordinates | 43°56′36″N 121°55′32″W / 43.94333°N 121.92556°W |
| Mouth | McKenzie River |
| - location | near Blue River |
| - elevation | 1,093 ft (333 m) |
| - coordinates | 44°09′32″N 122°17′44″W / 44.15889°N 122.29556°WCoordinates: 44°09′32″N 122°17′44″W / 44.15889°N 122.29556°W |
| Length | 31 mi (50 km) |
| Basin | 213 sq mi (552 km2) |
| Discharge | for 0.6 miles (1 km) downstream of Cougar Dam and 3.9 miles (6.3 km) from the mouth |
| - average | 853 cu ft/s (24 m3/s) |
| - max | 17,600 cu ft/s (498 m3/s) |
| - min | 17 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
  Location of the mouth of the South Fork McKenzie River in Oregon
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The South Fork McKenzie River is a tributary, about 31 miles (50 km) long, of the McKenzie River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at about 4,500 feet (1,400 m) above sea level near Mink Lake in the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Cascade Range. Flowing northwest within Lane County, it meets the McKenzie River about 60 miles (97 km) from the larger river's confluence with the Willamette River.
About 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the South Fork mouth,Cougar Dam impounds water from the river to create Cougar Reservoir. It is a multipurpose United States Army Corps of Engineers project built in 1963 to generate hydroelectricity and limit flooding.
The watershed offers many opportunities for recreation, including fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. Motorized boating is allowed on Cougar Reservoir, which is used for waterskiing. A popular hot springs is along a tributary near the reservoir. Whitewater enthusiasts sometimes run a difficult stretch of the upper river.
The South Fork McKenzie River begins in the Mink Lake Basin of the Cascade Range at an elevation of about 4,600 feet (1,400 m) above sea level. Lakes near the river's headwaters include Mink, Porky, Mud, Plumb, Goose, and Corner, as well as many smaller water bodies. Flowing west through the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Willamette National Forest, the river receives Elk Creek from the at river mile (RM) 25 or river kilometer (RK) 40. About 2 miles (3 km) further downstream, the river leaves the wilderness.
The river passes Frissel Crossing Campground, which is on the , about 22 miles (35 km) from the mouth. Slightly downstream of the campground, the South Fork passes under Forest Road 19 (Aufderheide Drive), which then runs parallel to the river along its right bank, and Roaring River enters from the left. Over the next stretch, Fir and Cascade creeks enter from the right. The Homestead Campground is on the right at about RM 18 (RK 29), and here the river turns northwest and then north. Augusta Creek enters from the left about 2 miles (3 km) later at Dutch Oven Campground.
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Wikipedia