North Umpqua Wild & Scenic River

Water Quality and Quantity

The North Umpqua River sustains a dependable flow of high quality water. Several components combine to produce the high water quality of the river. These attributes are: low turbidity (except during peak flow periods), low levels of contaminants and pollutants, cool water temperatures, and stable minimum in stream flows. The water quality and quantity of the North Umpqua River is the foundation for the other outstandingly remarkable values. The North Umpqua River produces a steady flow sufficient for both recreational uses and the maintenance of fish and aquatic life.

Fisheries

Historically, the combination of large summer run steelhead, fly-angling only restriction, and majestic scenery has drawn anglers from all over the world. The river serves as needed habitat for a variety of resident and anadromous fish species including summer and winter steelhead, fall and spring Chinook, Coho and sea-run cutthroat trout, and is distinguished from other rivers by the large and consistent numbers of native (non-hatchery) fish in the run. The North Umpqua summer steelhead fishery is considered to be one of the most outstanding on the West Coast.

Recreation

The area is readily accessible to a broad segment of the population and provides a variety of river-related recreational opportunities such as non-motorized boating activities, fly fishing, developed and dispersed camping, picnicking and swimming, horseback riding, hiking, sightseeing, bicycling, photography, nature study, and scenic driving. The corridor route (Highway 138) serves as the primary access to Diamond Lake Recreation Area and Crater Lake National Park. Visitors from all over the world travel through the North Umpqua River Corridor to enjoy these major destination attractions. This highway has received both national and regional recognition for its exceptional scenic quality and accessibility to a myriad of recreational and interpretive opportunities.

Scenic

This truly distinctive canyon landscape is generally characterized by the combination of clear jade-green rushing water, vertical rock cliffs and spires within a mosaic of mountain meadows and Douglas-fir/western hemlock forests. Adding to the natural scenic quality of the North Umpqua Wild and Scenic Corridor, are the locations of numerous prominent geologic features of columnar basalt, large basalt rock cliffs, boulders and spires which are currently managed as the Umpqua Rocks Special Geologic Area. Few river systems in the region expose as much of the volcanic and geologic history of the formation of the Cascades in one nearly straight, east-west direction.

Cultural

The North Umpqua River area was used by prehistoric peoples for more than 6,000 years. Radiocarbon dating places prehistoric occupation of the North Umpqua River as early as 6,300 years ago, while stratigraphic dating indicates that the occupation may have pre-dated the eruption of Mt. Mazama 6,800 years ago. The presence of the time sensitive artifacts indicates the occupation may go as far back as 8,000 years. This long period of occupation resulted in the formation of a number of sites within the Corridor that have unusual characteristics when compared with other sites in the region.

Of historical interest is the Steamboat area within the North Umpqua River Corridor. Visitors were initially drawn to the area because of the excellent fishing. The first known fish camp constructed on the river in the 1920's was located in this vicinity. Also found in this area is the historic Mott Bridge, a recognized Oregon Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935-36.

Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan

In this Record of Decision we adopt and approve for immediate implementation the following Roseburg District Resource Management Plan (RMP), based on the combination of this office's August 1992 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the October 1994 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). It is also supported by and consistent with the July 1993 Draft and February 1994 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on Management of Habitat of Late-Successional and Old-Growth Forest Related Species Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl and its associated April 1994 interagency Record of Decision for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (ROD).

Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan (PDF)

Photo Gallery

The North Umpqua River corridor begins 22 miles east of Roseburg on State Highway 138. The North Umpqua Scenic Byway offers views of breathtaking scenery and a variety of recreational activities including world class fly-fishing, whitewater rafting and kayaking, hiking, scenic waterfalls, mountain biking, horseback riding, watchable wildlife, and many camping opportunities. more>>