John Day River (Northwestern Oregon)

General data

Name: John Day River (Northwestern Oregon)
Water system: Columbia River
Water type: River
Progression: Columbia River -> Columbia River Estuary -> Pacific Ocean -> Planet Earth
Climates: Temperate
Continents: North America
Countries: Canada, United States of America

The John Day River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 457 km long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States. It is known as the Mah-Hah River by the Cayuse people. Undammed along its entire length, the river is the fourth longest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States. There is extensive use of its waters for irrigation. Its course furnishes habitat for diverse species, including wild steelhead and Chinook salmon runs. However, the steelhead populations are under federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections, and the Chinook salmon have been proposed for such protection.

The John Day is navigable by rafts and other small river craft by boaters who obtain permits provided by the Bureau of Land Management. Its lower course is used for irrigation of cropland and ranching.[4] In 1988, the United States Congress designated 237.4 km of the river from Service Creek to Tumwater Falls as Wild and Scenic for its recreational opportunities. The segment of the river is a popular destination for anadromous steelhead and warm water bass fishing, as well as whitewater rafting. In addition to wild spring chinook salmon and bass, the river furnishes habitat for Columbia River redband trout, bull trout, and westslope cutthroat trout. There are no hatchery salmon or steelhead released in the John Day River.

John Day River (Northwestern Oregon)

General data

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