Cow Creek (South Umpqua River tributary)

Cow Creek
West Fork Bridge over Cow Creek
Map of the Umpqua River watershed including Cow Creek (the C-shaped watercourse near the bottom)
Location
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Physical characteristics
Source	South Fork Cow Creek
• location	A mile north of Round Top, Jackson County, Umpqua National Forest
• coordinates	42°43′34″N 122°59′44″W / 42.72611°N 122.99556°W / 42.72611; -122.99556[1]
• elevation	4,000 ft (1,200 m)
2nd source	East Fork Cow Creek
• location	Richter Mountain, Umpqua National Forest
• coordinates	42°46′02″N 122°55′53″W / 42.76722°N 122.93139°W / 42.76722; -122.93139[2]
• elevation	4,500 ft (1,400 m)
Source confluence	About 3 miles (4.8 km) east-southeast of Devils Flat
• location	Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County
• coordinates	42°48′06″N 122°59′26″W / 42.80167°N 122.99056°W / 42.80167; -122.99056[3]
• elevation	2,402 ft (732 m)
Mouth	South Umpqua River
• location	Canyonville, Douglas County
• coordinates	42°56′49″N 123°20′16″W / 42.94694°N 123.33778°W / 42.94694; -123.33778[3]
• elevation	636 ft (194 m)[3]
Length	44 mi (71 km), East-west
Basin size	456 sq mi (1,180 km2)[4]
Discharge
• average	856 cu ft/s (24.2 m3/s)
• minimum	7.4 cu ft/s (0.21 m3/s)
• maximum	38,400 cu ft/s (1,090 m3/s)
Basin features
River system	South Umpqua River

Cow Creek is a medium-sized river in southwestern Oregon, a tributary of the South Umpqua River. It drains an area of over 400 square miles (1,000 km²) on the western foothills of the Cascade Range and within the Oregon Coast Range. Although the vast majority of the basin is within Douglas County, a tiny portion in the southeast extends into northern Jackson County.

The stream rises in the Umpqua National Forest at the confluence of South Fork Cow Creek and East Fork Cow Creek. The south fork, which is much larger, is sometimes considered the main stem. In its first few miles the creek flows west through an agricultural valley and through Galesville Reservoir. Cow Creek runs alongside Interstate 5 for several miles and receives Windy Creek from the right at Glendale, Oregon. The stream then bends northwest into a canyon, receiving West Fork Cow Creek on the left and Middle Creek from the right. It then continues northwards, bending steadily eastwards and doubling back on its former course. The river emerges from the mountains near Riddle, and bends sharply south around a ridge, joining the South Umpqua about 2 miles (3 km) west of Canyonville.^[5]

• List of longest streams of Oregon
• Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians