Elochoman River
Encyclopedia
The Elochoman River is a tributary
of the Columbia River
, in the U.S. state
of Washington. It is about 15 miles (24.1 km) long.
The river's name comes from the name of a Cathlamet
(Chinookan
) village.
, from which it flows west for several miles. Joined by the tributary East Fork and North Fork, the main river turns south. After a few miles the West Fork tributary joins. From there the main Elochoman River flows south and southwest. Its river valley widens into a broad flat bottomland called the Upper Elochoman Valley. Then the river passes through a short but narrow gorge, after which it meanders through the Lower Elochoman Valley.
In its final reach the Elochoman River flows through the sloughs and wetlands of the Columbia River's estuary. The mouth of the river is on Elochoman Slough, a 3 miles (4.8 km) long side-channel of the Columbia River located east of Hunting Islands, northwest of Cathlamet
. Much of the lower Elochoman River, Elochoman Slough, and Hunting Island are part of the Columbian White-tailed Deer
National Wildlife Refuge.
, Coho
, and Chum
salmon, as well winter-run steelhead trout
. The steelhead, which routinely number over 1,000 annually, are a draw for sport fishing.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. It is about 15 miles (24.1 km) long.
The river's name comes from the name of a Cathlamet
Cathlamet (people)
The Cathlamet, or Kathlamet, are tribe of the Chinookan people.They are in the very northern Willamette Valley, in southern Washington state....
(Chinookan
Chinookan
Chinook refers to several native amercain groups of in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, speaking the Chinookan languages. In the early 19th century, the Chinookan-speaking peoples lived along the lower and middle Columbia River in present-day Oregon and Washington...
) village.
Course
The Elochoman River's headwater's start from Elochoman Lake, in Cowlitz CountyCowlitz County, Washington
Cowlitz County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census its population was 102,410. It forms the Longview, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. The county seat is at Kelso, and its largest city is Longview...
, from which it flows west for several miles. Joined by the tributary East Fork and North Fork, the main river turns south. After a few miles the West Fork tributary joins. From there the main Elochoman River flows south and southwest. Its river valley widens into a broad flat bottomland called the Upper Elochoman Valley. Then the river passes through a short but narrow gorge, after which it meanders through the Lower Elochoman Valley.
In its final reach the Elochoman River flows through the sloughs and wetlands of the Columbia River's estuary. The mouth of the river is on Elochoman Slough, a 3 miles (4.8 km) long side-channel of the Columbia River located east of Hunting Islands, northwest of Cathlamet
Cathlamet, Washington
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 565 people, 246 households, and 138 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,426.2 people per square mile . There were 278 housing units at an average density of 701.7 per square mile...
. Much of the lower Elochoman River, Elochoman Slough, and Hunting Island are part of the Columbian White-tailed Deer
Columbian White-tailed Deer
The Columbian White-tailed Deer is one of the three subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America...
National Wildlife Refuge.
Natural history
The Elochoman River supports populations of ChinookChinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
, Coho
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, and Chum
Chum salmon
The chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is a Pacific salmon, and may also be known as dog salmon or Keta salmon, and is often marketed under the name Silverbrite salmon...
salmon, as well winter-run steelhead trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
. The steelhead, which routinely number over 1,000 annually, are a draw for sport fishing.