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Oregon Watershed

North Umpqua River

Famous for its 33 miles of fly fishing only and its wild summer steelhead, it also has good runs of spring and fall chinook, coho, and winter steelhead.

  • Fall Chinook
  • Coho Salmon
  • Summer Steelhead
  • Winter Steelhead
  • Coastal Cutthroat Trout

River Stewards

BSBryan SohlRZRich Zellman

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The North Umpqua River

The North Umpqua River is one of the most fabled rivers in the Northwest. It rises in the high Cascades and follows a serpentine course down from the Cascades, westward along the southern side of the Calapooya Mountains. Its upper course passes through the Umpqua National Forest, past Toketee Falls and Steamboat, where it receives Steamboat Creek from the north. Its famous emerald waters are a result of the fact the river source is high enough in the Cascades to derive from snowmelt during the entire year. The melting snow is trapped in volcanic soil and pumice and released during the summer months, providing an even cool-temperature flow. During the summer the flow of the river is approximately 20 times that of the nearby South Umpqua.

Famous for its 33 miles of fly fishing only and its wild summer steelhead, it also has good runs of spring and fall chinook, coho, and winter steelhead. Historically, however, the anadromous fish of the North Umpqua were very numerous, but today the numbers are fewer, but still vigorous and relatively stable. Winter steelhead of over 20 lbs are not unusual.

The upper 35 miles of the North have been included in the Wild and Scenic River system. The Forest Service is better managing the upper river, but BLM still pursues bad management practices and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s hatchery programs threaten the genetic versatility and strength of the North Umpqua’s wild fish. Partnerships between different organizations on this river, including the Native Fish Society, Umpqua Watersheds, and Steamboaters, have been crucial in nurturing and protecting this famous river.

Watershed Report Card

B

Good

Overall health score: 78/100

78

Data sources: USGS NWIS, EPA ATTAINS, StreamNet, NIFC, US Drought Monitor, NID. Scoring methodology developed by Native Fish Society based on salmonid habitat criteria. Data reviewed 2026.

Active Campaigns

Reviving Wild Abundance: An All-Wild Steelhead North Umpqua River

The North Umpqua River and its wild fish are invaluable public treasures for our community and our state. Wild fish species, such as summer steelhead, play a critical role in the ecosystem of the North Umpqua River in Oregon. They provide a source of food for other animals, help to maintain water quality, and serve as indicators of the overall health of the ecosystem. By protecting and restoring wild fish populations, we can ensure the continued health and productivity of the North Umpqua River and its ecosystem. However, native fish populations in the North Umpqua River face significant threats due to hatchery fish that are putting their survival at risk. To protect these important species, it is important to reduce the number of hatchery releases, implement sustainable fishing practices, and conserve critical habitats to support healthy populations of wild, native fish in the North Umpqua River.

North Umpqua River: Winchester Dam Removal

The North Umpqua River and its wild fish are invaluable public treasures for our community and our state. For decades, these resources have been diminished by Winchester Dam, a structure whose sole purpose is to provide recreation for a few private homeowners. The dam owners, Winchester Water Control District, have failed to maintain the structure for the past 30 years. This neglect has resulted in major infrastructure problems that threaten our fish, water quality, and community safety. In 2023, attempted dam maintenance resulted in the mortality of hundreds of thousands of Pacific Lamprey, water quality violations, and blocked volitional fish passage. But there is hope. Native Fish Society is invested in our mission of restoring the North Umpqua River to its former glory, reviving wild, native fish population and returning the river to a free-flowing state, providing unimpeded access to more than 160 miles of cold water habitats for native fish.

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Protect This River

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