WATERSHEDS IN THE NORTH COAST BASIN

A watershed is the divide separating one drainage area from another (Chow, 1964). The term "watershed" is commonly used to refer to an area; specifically, the area in which all surface waters flow to a common point.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed a hierarchy for defining watersheds of varying sizes. The smallest subdivision in the USGS hierarchy is the Subbasin. Almost all of the subbasins are larger than 700 square miles in size.

These pages offer a framework for understanding your watershed. Oregon´s Coast Range watersheds create a unique topographic and climatic divide in the Pacific Northwest. Their mountains are rugged with sharp ridges and steep slopes. Ridgeline elevations range from 1500-2500 feet, with a high of 4097 feet on Marys Peak. Rugged terrain gives way along the coast and major rivers to undulating hills and flat valleys where dairy farming is common. The mountain slopes are typically a mosaic of young forests of different ages, reflecting the recent historic pattern of forest management.