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The Confluence

confluence photo

Erin Starkebaum, The Columbian

When Lewis and Clark encountered the junction of the Willamette and Columbia, they found the largest concentration of peoples in their continental travels. Clark was inspired to observe “this valley would maintain 40 or 50 thousands souls if properly cultivated and is indeed the only desirable situation for a settlement which I have seen on the west side of the Rocky mountains.”

People weren't the only inhabitants; Clark also described an abundance of waterfowl-- which was not entirely to his liking: "I could not sleep for the noise kept by the Swans, Geese, white & black brant, Ducks etc. ...& Sand hill Crane, they were emensely numerous and their noise horrid."

The confluence lies along the Pacific Flyway and is a primary component of the region’s habitat network which includes the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, Vancouver Lake lowlands, Sauvie Island and more. The Willamette connects many habitat areas, including Smith and Bybee Wetlands, Oaks Bottom, Ross Island, and Forest Park.

The Rivers of Portland

Portland is at the confluence of two great rivers--the Willamette, which is the 13th largest river by volume in the continental U.S.; and the Columbia, the nation's 4th largest (and the biggest North American river discharging to the Pacific Ocean).

map of columbia and willamette

Portland lays claim to the last 17 miles of the 187 mile long Willamette, and about 24 miles of the 1,200 mile-long Columbia. Portland's city center and harbor are on the Willamette. The south shore of the Columbia is home to Portland's international airport and many industries. Both rivers represent tremendous natural and economic assets. A number of highlights are called out below--and more information is available on the Willamette and Columbia pages of this site.

Lower Willamette River Condition (PDF Document, 22kb)

A summary of the environmental conditions in the Lower Willamette and the River's history of change.

Willamette Basin River and Stream Assessment 2009 (PDF Document, 3,906kb)

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality report that provides a resource for water quality managers, watershed councils, municipalities and citizens to help understand the status of watershed conditions in the Willamette basin.

River Highlights

River Facts and Flows

	Get real-time flow info for the Willamette at the Morrison Bridge--and learn about past flow patterns by clicking here.
	See how high the Willamette's been--and where it's predicted to go over the next 5 days by clicking here
	Real-time River Cams: KATU's web-cam at North end of Marquam Bridge; KGW's web-cam looking west across Willamette to downtown; and KOIN's web-cam at Rodger's Marine on the Columbia.

River Natural

	Click here to learn where salmon and trout live along the Willamette, Columbia, and tributaries (photos, maps, posters, factsheets)
	Learn about Portland's Willamette Watershed and what the City is doing to protect and restore it
	Read the Willamette River Conditions Report (2004)
	Read the Willamette River Natural Resource Inventory: Riparian Corridors and Wildlife (for North Reach of River Plan, 2009)

The Watershed

space shuttle photo of NW Oregon

Willamette basin from space shuttle

The Willamette Watershed (basin) covers nearly 12,000 square miles and is one of the biggest river basins contained wholly within any one state. Stretching from Eugene to Portland, and from the Coast Range to the Cascades, the watershed is home to about 70 percent of Oregonians.

The Willamette basin is part of the 260,000 square mile Columbia River Basin which drains most of the Pacific Northwest. The Willamette enters the Columbia at Portland (105 miles from the Pacific), and provides about 15 percent of the Columbia's flow at that point. A few watershed-related websites follow:

- The Willamette Basin Explorer

- City of Portland Willamette Basin page

- Portland's Willamette Watershed site

- DEQ's Willamette Basin site

- EPA Columbia River Basin site

- Columbia salmon recovery

Questions? Call the Rivers Office at 503.823.0275, or email us.