Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major river in northwestern Oregon that flows north through the Willamette Valley and joins the Columbia River at Portland.
Columbia River: A major river in western North America that flows to the Pacific Ocean through Washington and Oregon. The Willamette meets the Columbia near Portland, adding its flow to the larger river.
Missoula Floods: A series of catastrophic Ice Age floods that swept across parts of the Pacific Northwest. Floodwaters reached the Willamette Valley and deposited sediments that enriched its soils.
Chinookan peoples: Indigenous peoples of the lower Columbia River region who historically spoke Chinookan languages. Chinookan communities lived near the Willamette's mouth and used its connected waterways.
Port of Portland: The public port authority that operates marine terminals, airports, and industrial facilities in the Portland area. The Willamette provides a navigable route through Portland to the Columbia River shipping channel.
Willamette Valley Project: A system of federal dams and reservoirs built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Willamette basin. Its reservoirs reduce flood risk and supply water, but alter river flows and fish habitat.
Willamette Valley: A broad, fertile valley in western Oregon, drained chiefly by the Willamette River. The river runs north through this valley, which its tributaries and floods help form.
Lake Missoula: A large glacial lake in present-day Montana, repeatedly dammed by ice during the last Ice Age. Its periodic release sent floodwaters westward toward the Willamette basin.
Kalapuya: Indigenous peoples whose homelands include much of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Kalapuya communities lived along the river and managed the valley's landscapes for generations.
Willamette River Greenway: An Oregon land-use program protecting public access and natural areas along the Willamette River. It guides conservation and recreation along the river's banks.
Willamette River pollution: Contamination of the Willamette River by industrial chemicals, sewage, and other pollutants. Urban and industrial uses left a legacy that prompted major cleanup efforts.