Wilson River Basin
 
The Wilson River is one of five rivers in the Tillamook Basin draining to Tillamook Bay. It encompasses approximately 194 square miles or 123,557 acres and the largest watershed of the Tillamook Bay drainage. The highest elevation point is 3,691 feet.

Major Tributaries:

  • Hall Slough, Hughey Creek, Little North Fork, Fall Creek, Jordan Creek, Cedar Creek, North Fork, South Fork, Elk Creek, Devil's Lake Fork, Idiot Creek, Drift Creek, and Elliot Creek.
   Photograph of upper Wilson River by Demeter Design
   
Photograph of upper Wilson by Demeter Design  
The dominant ownership in the Wilson River watershed is State and Federal Forest lands, accounting for 81 percent of the watershed’s total area. Like most of the Tillamook Bay watershed, the watershed is characterized by steep forested uplands and flat alluvial lowlands. Much of the higher elevations have been clear-cut for timber or were burned as a part of the Tillamook Burns. The lower Wilson River runs adjacent to the City of Tillamook and drains both agricultural and developed areas. Substantial development has occurred in the Wilson River floodplain, although there is very little private land still available for development in this watershed.
   
Water quality in the major streams of the Wilson River watershed are considered impaired due to frequent exceedence of standard water quality criteria temperature, nitrogen, and bacteria. Dissolved oxygen may also be a problem in the lower reaches of the river near the mouth.</p>
<p>Research is currently underway to gain a better understanding of these issues. Please feel free to download the Wilson River TMDL and Watershed Assessment on the downloads page.		   Photograph of upper Wilson by Demeter Design
   
Photograph of the upper Wilson River by Demeter Design  
The Lower Wilson River and Little North Fork Wilson River subwatersheds have areas of very large conifer dominated stands which occur throughout approximately1% of each subwatershed. These large conifer dominated stands are some of the rare old growth stands remaining in the watershed. Most of the vegetation in the Wilson River watershed is represented by small and medium conifers as a result of silvicultural activities beginning around 1850 and the Tillamook burns which occured several times during the middle of the twentieth century.
 
Issues affecting watershed health:
  • Lack of large wood in the rivers (large woody debris or LWD) and low LWD recruitment potential.
  • Lack of channel complexity.
  • Lack of off-channel habitat for winter refuge and rearing of Coho Salmon and Cutthroat Trout.
  • Persistent oversedimentation.
  • Lack of genetic diversity among key fish populations.

Please feel free to join our discussion board and mailing list for up-to-date information regarding these issues.

 

   Photograph of Wilson River vegetation by Demeter Design
  Photograph of Drowned Trees by Demeter Design  

The present condition of the freshwater habitat within the Wilson River watershed has been heavily influenced not only by several centuries of human presence, but also by natural phenomena.

While ecological systems tend to respond positively and quickly to natural disturbances, many human practices have severely disturbed the watershed to a point where recovery to a pre-civilized seral condition is not likely in this generation. These practices include;

  • Channelization of the river from splash damming, road construction, and flood control
  • Floodplain destruction from diking and development
  • Clear-cutting and debris filling from logging practices
  • Removal of gravel and other sediments from mining and dredging
  • Frequent burning of slash and accidental fires associated with summer logging activities
  • Bacterial loading from agricultural practices and aging septic systems
  • Recreational activities

Dike construction has been extensive throughout the lower reaches of the Wilson river watershed. These dikes have had significant effects on flooding, hydrologic function, and fish access to estuarine wetlands.

Large Woody Debris quantity in surveyed streams are less than desirable. In particular, the density of key pieces of LWD is predominantly rated as undesirable. Riparian conditions almost uniformly demonstrate undesirable conditions, with nearly all streams lacking sufficient densities of conifers in the riparian zones. Similarly, many of the streams show poor LWD recruitment potential. None of the riparian areas in the watershed demonstrate a high potential to contribute LWD to the stream channel. The lack of large conifers (>24" dbh) in the watershed is likely a result of the Tillamook Burn and historic vegetation removal along the riparian corridor. 
 
     
 
503-322-0002
tbwc@oregoncoast.com
605 Garibaldi AvenueGaribaldi, OR 97118
 
Website by Demeter Design 2008