Chetco River

The Omnibus Oregon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1988 designated 44.5 miles of the Chetco River as Wild & Scenic, from its headwaters in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness down to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest boundary just above Loeb State Park. The designated segment of the Chetco is located within Curry County in southwest Oregon on the Gold Beach Ranger District. The Chetco Wild & Scenic River is divided into three segments:

• The 27.5-mile Wild segment from the headwaters down to Mislatnah Creek;
• The 8.0-mile Scenic segment from Mislatnah Creek down to Eagle Creek; and
• The 11.0-mile Recreational segment from Eagle Creek down to the RRSNF boundary.

The head of the Chetco River is in the steep, sparsely vegetated, mountainous terrain of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Over its 55.5 mile length, the Chetco River drops from 3700 feet to sea-level as it empties into the Pacific Ocean between the towns of Brookings and Harbor. In the upper section, the river floor is fairly narrow and boulder-strewn with numerous falls and rapids. As the river leaves the wilderness, its character gradually changes. The terrain gradually tempers its rugged steepness, the river gradient gradually lessens, the river bottom widens, and the surrounding hills become more densely forested. The Chetco River Gorge, just below Steel Bridge, contains steep sides and unusual rock formations. Below this, the Chetco River continues to widen, the water slows dramatically, and sand and gravel bars and raised river terraces become more common.

The Chetco River receives healthy runs of large winter steelhead and fall Chinook salmon. Licensed fishing and rafting guides and shuttle services are available to float this section on the RRSNF. The river fishes well when flows are between 2,000 and 4,000 cubic feet/second (cfs) and the levels are receding. Side-drifting for winter steelhead and back-bouncing for Chinook salmon are preferred methods of fishing this stream, although other tactics will catch fish.

The Chetco River has three Outstandingly Remarkable Values: 

Water Quality

Water Quality was selected as an Outstandingly Remarkable Value based on its striking color and clarity, its ability to clear quickly following storm events, its contribution to both recreation and fisheries, and its contribution of exceptionally pure and clean water for the domestic water supplies of Brookings and Harbor.

Fisheries

The Chetco River fishery has important populations of anadromous winter steelhead, fall Chinook salmon and sea-run cutthroat trout. The Chetco provides excellent spawning and rearing habitat and has some of the highest salmonid smolt returns of any coastal stream in Oregon.

Recreation

The Chetco River and its adjacent corridor offer a wide diversity of recreational opportunities, including salmon and steelhead fishing, whitewater kayaking, four-wheel driving, swimming, boating, camping, sightseeing and picnicking are the major attractions. The primary fishing season for steelhead and salmon is between November and March.