Life Along the Siuslaw

[AlanLichty]

Downstream view of the Siuslaw River from just west of Mapleton. Some of the properties that adjoin the river are have been owned by families that date back to early settler days although quite a few are far more recent. I have seen realty signs quite a few times while driving up into the forests. Nice place to live if you are seriously into fishing. The water here is tidal and is navigable to the Pacific roughly 14 miles downstream.

C&C always welcome.

 

[Trent Watts]

What a gorgeous place Alan. You really captured the beauty of the season.

 

[AlanLichty]

What a gorgeous place Alan. You really captured the beauty of the season.

Thanks Trent - the river valleys along the Oregon Coast are quite beautiful any time of year but catching peak colors in the fall can be almost magical.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nicely composed view of the river and the foliage along the banks. The S curve of the river and the hint of that on the road adds a nice touch.

 

[AlanLichty]

Nicely composed view of the river and the foliage along the banks. The S curve of the river and the hint of that on the road adds a nice touch.

Thanks Jameel - the road on the far side of the river is the main highway between Eugene and Florence. The river looks more interesting from the south bank which is Sweet Creek Road almost directly under the drone.

 

[JimFox]

That's interesting that it's tidal. How much does it go up and down?

 

[AlanLichty]

That's interesting that it's tidal. How much does it go up and down?

Thanks Jim - I will scrounge around to see if I can find some info on tide flows in this area. The Columbia has tide flows all the way up to the base of the Bonneville Dam and is about 1/3 of the tide heights out along the coast at Astoria. That's almost 100 miles inland but flatwater all the way. Portland's airport is basically at sea level but protected by levees. I used to track the tide tables for all the various places I used to paddle that are tidal like this in my area because if I wasn't careful I would find myself are paddling upstream in both directions as the tides are strong enough to change the direction of the flow in the local flatwater creeks and rivers. That's true all the way up into Salmon Creek near my house. Time your paddling trip just right and you are paddling downstream in both directions

Edit: I should point out that the Columbia doesn't really reverse its flow with the tides. The water level does raise and lower which in turn can reverse the flow of the smaller estuaries but the Columbia itself isn't impacted in the same way.