South Fork McKenzie River
| South Fork McKenzie River | |
|---|---|
South Fork McKenzie River | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | near Mink Lake |
| • location | Three Sisters Wilderness, Cascade Range |
| • coordinates | 43°56′36″N 121°55′32″W / 43.94333°N 121.92556°W |
| • elevation | 4,559 ft (1,390 m) |
| Mouth | McKenzie River |
• location | near Blue River |
• coordinates | 44°09′32″N 122°17′44″W / 44.15889°N 122.29556°W |
• elevation | 1,093 ft (333 m) |
| Length | 31 mi (50 km) |
| Basin size | 213 sq mi (550 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | 0.6 miles (1 km) downstream of Cougar Dam and 3.9 miles (6.3 km) from the mouth |
| • average | 853 cu ft/s (24.2 m3/s) |
| • minimum | 17 cu ft/s (0.48 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 17,600 cu ft/s (500 m3/s) |
The South Fork McKenzie River is a tributary, about 31 miles (50 km) long, of the McKenzie River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at about 4,500 feet (1,400 m) above sea level near Mink Lake in the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Cascade Range. Flowing northwest within Lane County, it meets the McKenzie River about 60 miles (97 km) from the larger river's confluence with the Willamette River.
About 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the South Fork mouth, Cougar Dam impounds water from the river to create Cougar Reservoir. It is a multipurpose United States Army Corps of Engineers project built in 1963 to generate hydroelectricity and limit flooding.
The watershed offers many opportunities for recreation, including fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. Motorized boating is allowed on Cougar Reservoir, which is used for waterskiing. A popular hot springs is along a tributary near the reservoir. Whitewater enthusiasts sometimes run a difficult stretch of the upper river.