Winchuck River

This coastal river is among the smaller watersheds on the southern Oregon coast. The Winchuck is situated primarily within Curry County with some subwatersheds extending into California’s Del Norte County including the South Fork, Middle Winchuck Mainstem, and Bear Creek. Flowing in a westerly direction the Winchuck River crosses Highway 101 and drains into the Pacific Ocean about a half-mile north of the Oregon/California border and approximately five miles south of Brookings, Oregon. Elevations in the watershed range from sea level to approximately 2,925 feet on Mount Emily. Major tributaries include Fourth of July Creek, East Fork, Wheeler Creek, Bear Creek, and the South Fork. The upper portion of the basin is characterized by steeply sloped forested areas with narrow valleys and tributary streams that have moderately steep to very steep gradient. Grazing, rural residential development and other agricultural uses are dominant in the lower portion of the basin.

Watershed Facts

Land Ownership & Use

71% public ownership, 29% private ownership

Vegetation

95% forest/shrub, <1% impervious, <1% wetland

Watershed Size

45,631 acres / 71.4 sq. mi.

Hydrology/Flow

2 yr peak flow – 7670 cfs
10 yr peak flow – 14500 cfs
50 yr peak flow – 21100 cfs
100 yr peak flow – 24100 cfs
Average Flow Range (5% – 95% flow durations): 14000 – 13 cfs

Fish Use

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

Did you know?

Most of Oregon’s remaining coastal redwood forest is located in the Winchuck

Restoration and Education Efforts

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