Myrtle Creek is a short tributary of the South Umpqua River in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its main stem, formed by the confluence of two forks just south of the city of Myrtle Creek, is only about 1 mile (1.6 km) long. Its only named tributaries are the two forks, North Myrtle Creek and South Myrtle Creek, each of which is much longer than the main stem.[4]
The Myrtle Creek watershed contains one of the largest blocks of land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management in western Oregon. The unbroken forest and its stream network provide habitat for species such as coho salmon and the northern spotted owl as well as clean drinking water for humans. Recreation in the watershed includes hiking, mushroom gathering, camping, horseback riding, and a wide variety of other outdoor activities.[5]
In 1990, the City of Myrtle Creek acquired timbers from the former Horse Creek Bridge in Lane County and used them to build a covered bridge over Myrtle Creek. The bridge connects a parking area to the city's Mill Site Park.[6]
Gold had been discovered in Douglas County as early as the 1860s. In 1891, China Ditch, a 33-mile (53 km) artificial waterway dug with the help of hundreds of Chinese workers, began diverting water from Little River in the North Umpqua River basin to North Myrtle Creek to make hydraulic dredging with large machines possible near the headwaters during all seasons . By 1894, the project had failed to produce enough gold to meet expenses and closed down.[7]
The Bureau of Land Management oversees an 11-mile (18 km) segment of the ditch that has been preserved. A loop formed by existing county roads—supplemented by a 4,000-foot (1,200 m) trail—allows visitors to see remnants of the ditch by automobile. The self-guided loop includes a series of signs detailing the history of the ditch.[8]
Neal Lane Bridge, a covered bridge, carries Neal Lane over the creek near the city of Myrtle Creek. The 42-foot (13 m) span is the only covered bridge in Oregon with a kingpost truss design.[10]
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Myrtle Creek is a short tributary of the South Umpqua River in Douglas County in the U S state of Oregon Its main stem formed by the confluence of two forks just south of the city of Myrtle Creek is only about 1 mile 1 6 km long Its only named tributaries are the two forks North Myrtle Creek and South Myrtle Creek each of which is much longer than the main stem 4 Myrtle CreekLocation of the mouth of Myrtle Creek in OregonEtymologyFor the groves of Oregon myrtle growing nearby 2 LocationCountryUnited StatesStateOregonCountyDouglasPhysical characteristicsSourceconfluence of North Myrtle Creek and South Myrtle Creek locationMyrtle Creek coordinates43 01 24 N 123 17 01 W 43 02333 N 123 28361 W 43 02333 123 28361 1 elevation594 ft 181 m 3 MouthSouth Umpqua River locationMyrtle Creek coordinates43 01 22 N 123 17 45 W 43 02278 N 123 29583 W 43 02278 123 29583 1 elevation581 ft 177 m 1 Length1 mi 1 6 km 4 The Myrtle Creek watershed contains one of the largest blocks of land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management in western Oregon The unbroken forest and its stream network provide habitat for species such as coho salmon and the northern spotted owl as well as clean drinking water for humans Recreation in the watershed includes hiking mushroom gathering camping horseback riding and a wide variety of other outdoor activities 5 In 1990 the City of Myrtle Creek acquired timbers from the former Horse Creek Bridge in Lane County and used them to build a covered bridge over Myrtle Creek The bridge connects a parking area to the city s Mill Site Park 6 Contents 1 North fork 1 1 China Ditch 2 South fork 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksNorth fork EditNorth Myrtle Creek begins in the Cascade Range at 43 10 40 N 123 06 09 W 43 1778956 N 123 1025616 W 43 1778956 123 1025616 North Myrtle Creek 3 on the slopes of Buck Peak and it flows generally southwest 4 The named tributaries of North Myrtle Creek from source to mouth are Buck Fork followed by Lee Slide Frozen Big Lick Little Lick and Bilger creeks 4 China Ditch Edit Gold had been discovered in Douglas County as early as the 1860s In 1891 China Ditch a 33 mile 53 km artificial waterway dug with the help of hundreds of Chinese workers began diverting water from Little River in the North Umpqua River basin to North Myrtle Creek to make hydraulic dredging with large machines possible near the headwaters during all seasons By 1894 the project had failed to produce enough gold to meet expenses and closed down 7 The Bureau of Land Management oversees an 11 mile 18 km segment of the ditch that has been preserved A loop formed by existing county roads supplemented by a 4 000 foot 1 200 m trail allows visitors to see remnants of the ditch by automobile The self guided loop includes a series of signs detailing the history of the ditch 8 South fork EditSouth Myrtle Creek begins at 43 05 38 N 122 57 15 W 43 094008 N 122 954225 W 43 094008 122 954225 South Myrtle Creek 9 near Deadman Mountain in the Umpqua National Forest of the Cascade Range and it flows generally west southwest 4 The named tributaries of South Myrtle Creek from source to mouth are Curtin Johnson Lally Weaver Letitia Long Wiley Short Wiley and Louis creeks followed by Ben Branch School Hollow and Cedar Hollow 4 Neal Lane Bridge a covered bridge carries Neal Lane over the creek near the city of Myrtle Creek The 42 foot 13 m span is the only covered bridge in Oregon with a kingpost truss design 10 See also EditList of rivers of OregonReferences Edit a b c Myrtle Creek Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior January 1 2002 Retrieved February 16 2016 McArthur Lewis A McArthur Lewis L 2003 1928 Oregon Geographic Names 7th ed Portland Oregon Historical Society Press pp 687 88 ISBN 0 87595 277 1 a b North Myrtle Creek Geographic Names Information System GNIS United States Geological Survey November 28 1980 Retrieved February 16 2016 a b c d e f United States Topographic Map United States Geological Survey Retrieved February 16 2016 via Acme Mapper BLM Special Places Myrtle Creek Headwaters Bureau of Land Management Retrieved February 17 2016 Myrtle Creek Horse Creek Covered Bridge PDF Oregon Department of Transportation Retrieved February 17 2016 China Ditch Bureau of Land Management Retrieved February 16 2016 Driving Loop Bureau of Land Management Retrieved February 17 2016 South Myrtle Creek Geographic Names Information System GNIS United States Geological Survey November 28 1980 Retrieved February 16 2016 South Myrtle Creek Neal Lane Covered Bridge PDF Oregon Department of Transportation Retrieved February 17 2016 External links EditMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMapDownload coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Myrtle Creek South Umpqua River tributary amp oldid 1019250482, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
