Santiam River
Encyclopedia
The Santiam River is a tributary of the Willamette River
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) long, in western Oregon
in the United States
. Through its two principal tributaries, the North Santiam
and the South Santiam
rivers, it drains a large area of the Cascade Range
at the eastern side of the Willamette Valley
east of Salem
and Corvallis
.
The main course of the river is short, formed in the Willamette Valley by the confluence of the North and South Santiam rivers on the border between Linn
and Marion
counties approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) northeast of Albany
. It flows generally west-northwest in a slow meander
ing course to join the Willamette from the east approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Albany.
Both the North and South Santiam rise in high Cascades in eastern Linn County. The Middle Santiam River
joins the South Santiam where the South Santiam is impounded to form Foster Lake. The North Santiam is impounded to form the 400 feet (121.9 m) deep Detroit Lake
in the Cascades. The Santiam is a major source of water supply for Salem.
The Great Willamette Flood of 1861
, which crested on December 2, destroyed a number of towns on the Santiam branches, most notably Champoeg and Linn City.
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) long, in western Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Through its two principal tributaries, the North Santiam
North Santiam River
The North Santiam River is a tributary of the Santiam River in western Oregon in the United States. It drains of the Cascade Range on the eastern side of the Willamette Valley east of Salem....
and the South Santiam
South Santiam River
The South Santiam River is a tributary of the Santiam River, about long, in western Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of the Cascade Range into the Willamette Valley east of Corvallis....
rivers, it drains a large area of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
at the eastern side of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
east of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
and Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
.
The main course of the river is short, formed in the Willamette Valley by the confluence of the North and South Santiam rivers on the border between Linn
Linn County, Oregon
Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American occupation of the Oregon Country. By the 2010 US census the population of Linn county was 116,672 showing a 13.2% growth since the 2000 census...
and Marion
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
counties approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) northeast of Albany
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
. It flows generally west-northwest in a slow meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing course to join the Willamette from the east approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Albany.
Both the North and South Santiam rise in high Cascades in eastern Linn County. The Middle Santiam River
Middle Santiam River
The Middle Santiam River is a tributary of the South Santiam River, long, in western Oregon in the United States. It drains a remote area of the Cascade Range east of Corvallis in the watershed of the Willamette River....
joins the South Santiam where the South Santiam is impounded to form Foster Lake. The North Santiam is impounded to form the 400 feet (121.9 m) deep Detroit Lake
Detroit Lake
Detroit Lake is a reservoir impounded by the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River southeast of Salem, Oregon, United States.The lake is adjacent to Oregon Route 22 near the city of Detroit....
in the Cascades. The Santiam is a major source of water supply for Salem.
The Great Willamette Flood of 1861
Great Flood of 1862
The Great Flood of 1862 or Noachian Deluge was the largest flood in the recorded history of Oregon, Nevada and California, occurring from December 1861 to January 1862. It was preceded by weeks of continuous rains that began in Oregon in November 1861 and continued into January 1862...
, which crested on December 2, destroyed a number of towns on the Santiam branches, most notably Champoeg and Linn City.