Chetco River

The Chetco is the largest coastal watershed (excluding the Rogue River) in Oregon south of the Coquille. The Chetco mainstem is about 56 miles long with its headwaters and the first 28 miles of the mainstem located within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Flowing in a westerly direction the Chetco empties into the Pacific Ocean at Chetco Cove located about 6 miles north of the California line between the towns of Brookings and Harbor. Elevations in the watershed range from sea level to approximately 5,098 feet on Pearsoll Peak. Major tributaries include Box Canyon Creek, Tincup Creek, Boulder Creek, Mislatnah Creek, Eagle Creek, South Fork, Emily Creek, North Fork and Jacks Creek. The upper portion of the watershed is characterized by steeply sloped forested areas with narrow valleys and tributary streams that have moderately steep to very steep gradients. The lowest 11 miles of the river is bordered by private land. Rural residential development, forestry, and urban areas are the dominant land uses in this lower portion of the watershed. The Chetco estuary, estimated at 1.7 miles in length has been substantially altered from its natural state.

Watershed Facts

Land Ownership & Use

82% public ownership, 18% private ownership

Vegetation

93% forest/shrub, <1% impervious, <1% wetland

Watershed Size

224000 aces or 350 square miles

Hydrology/Flow

  • 2 yr peak flow – 43100 cfs
  • 10 yr peak flow – 73100 cfs
  • 50 yr peak flow – 99800 cfs
  • 100 yr peak flow – 111000 cfs
  • Average Flow Range (5% – 95% flow durations): 9540 – 439 cfs

Fish Use

Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, sculpin, coastal cutthroat trout, Pacific lamprey

Did you know?

The Kalmiopsis Wilderness, located in the upper Chetco watershed, is a unique landscape with a number of rare plant species and has the highest wildlife diversity of any region in Oregon.

Restoration and Education Efforts

woman walking along Elk River

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woman walking along Elk River

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

woman walking along Elk River

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Assessments, Action Plans & Formal Reports