Field Guide to Oregon Rivers

by Tim Palmer

Overview

In this updated edition of his classic Field Guide to Oregon Rivers, Tim Palmer gives us an unprecedented reference, introducing the state’s waterways and offering outdoor enthusiasts and resource professionals an interpretive approach to an extraordinary network of streams. He begins with natural history—geology, climate, hydrology, plants, and wildlife—then profiles 111 Oregon rivers with notes about nature, fish, and conservation, followed by essential tips on where to see each river, hike along the shores, fish, and explore by canoe, kayak, and raft. Illustrations identify riparian plants and animals while more than 150 photographs showcase a magnificent rivers estate. This volume is an essential outdoor companion for Oregonians and visitors alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781962645034
Publisher:	Oregon State University Press
Publication date:	04/23/2024
Edition description:	First Edition, Second Edition
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	655,940
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Tim Palmer has explored, photographed, and written about rivers for more than forty years. Paddler magazine named him among the “10 greatest river conservationists of our time” and one of the “100 greatest paddlers of the past century.” His honors include the National Outdoor Book Award, Lifetime Achievement Award from American Rivers, and Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation. www.timpalmer.org

Table of Contents

Introduction 10

Part 1 Lifelines of Oregon 15

1 Natural History of Oregon Rivers 17

2 Fifty Species of River and Riparian Plants and Animals 37

3 Problems, Protection, and Restoration 53

Part 2 River Portraits 70

4 Coastal Rivers 77

5 Umpqua 125

6 Rogue 138

7 Willamette 153

8 The Columbia and its Gorge 196

9 Deschutes 211

10 Klamath 227

11 John Day and Umatilla 240

12 Desert Streams 252

13 The Snake River and its Tributaries 259

Appendix 293

Long Dam-Free Reaches of Rivers 293

Long River Trips 294

Best River Running 295

Best Hiking Along Rivers 297

Best Bicycling Along Rivers 298

Best Fishing 298

Oregon's Finest Natural Rivers 299

National Wild and Scenic Rivers 300

State Scenic Waterways 302

Oregon Rivers Canoed or Rafted by the Author 303

Organizations Involved with River Conservation 305

Acknowledgments 306

Sources 308

About the Author and Photos 311

Index 313

Editorial Reviews

"This rare gem of a book is an excellent combination of art and science. Descriptions of ecology and natural history are accurately and eloquently written for students, scientists, and all readers, and the photos are amazing. Tim Palmer's field guide is my new 'life list' for Oregon rivers, featuring many waterways that I've still not discovered even after 40 years of studying these streams."
—Stan Gregory, emeritus professor of fisheries, Oregon State University

"Here is an essential tool for anyone who paddles, fishes, explores, and wants to understand the natural history of our rivers and the challenges they face. Thanks to Tim Palmer, we now have the field guide that Oregon's rivers deserve."
—John DeVoe, former executive director, WaterWatch

"From desert rivers flowing through basalt gorges to coastal streams cascading through temperate rainforests, Oregon's diversity of rivers is among the greatest anywhere. Tim's much-needed book will get you to the best places to paddle, hike, fish, and explore. This excellent guide will inform and motivate every reader to enjoy rivers and work for their protection."
—Thomas O'Keefe, Pacific Northwest stewardship director, American Whitewater

From the Publisher