- Umatilla River
The Umatilla River is a tributary of the
Columbia River , joining the Columbia at the city of Umatilla, just belowMcNary Dam in northeasternOregon in theUnited States . Itsdrainage basin is convert|3714|sqmi|km2 in area. [ [http://www.nwcouncil.org/fw/subbasinplanning/umatilla/plan/EntirePlan.pdf Umatilla Subbasin Plan] , Northwest Power and Conservation Council]The name "Umatilla" is derived from the Native American name for the river, which was first recorded as "Youmalolam" in the journals of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition .Course
The Umatilla River's headwaters lie in the Blue Mountains. The North Fork Umatilla River rises in the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness, part of the
Umatilla National Forest . The South Fork Umatilla River rises nearby and the two join in the heart of the Blue Mountains.From the Umatilla forks confluence, the river flows west out of the Umatilla National Forest and into the
Umatilla Indian Reservation , passing by the towns of Cayuse and Mission. After exiting the reservation, the river flows through Pendleton, the main city of Umatilla County.After Pendleton, the Umatilla River continues to flow west, then northwest, by the towns of Echo and Stanfield. Near the city of Hermiston the river turns due north for its last several miles. It joins the Columbia River just below McNary Dam, in the section of the Columbia impounded behind
John Day Dam known as Lake Umatilla.In its last few miles, the Umatilla River passed by the
Umatilla Chemical Depot .Fish
The Umatilla River supports populations of spring
Chinook and fall Chinook salmon,steelhead among other species.Coho salmon were extirpated, but have been reintroduced by collaborative efforts of the Umatilla Tribe and theOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife . The river supports a tribal and sport fishery for spring Chinook and steelhead.ee also
*
List of Oregon rivers References
External links
*, USGS GNIS
* [http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/huc.cfm?huc_code=17070103 Umatilla Watershed] , EPA Surf Your Watershed
* "Oregon Road & Recreation Atlas" (2002) Benchmark Maps, Medford, Oregon.
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