The South Umpqua River is a tributary of the Umpqua River, approximately long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. Although the US Government ratified the treaty, the terms agreed upon in the treaty were never honored.

Beginning in the 1820s, trappers and traders of the Hudson's Bay Company began using the South Umpqua River valley to move along what became known as the Siskiyou Trail. The Siskiyou Trail was based on existing Indian footpaths, and became an important link between the Pacific Northwest and California's Central Valley.

In 1846, spurred by the desire to create a safer trail for emigrants to use to reach the Willamette Valley, Jesse and Lindsay Applegate, Levi Scott, and 13 other companions explored a new route through the valley that connected the southern Willamette Valley with Goose Lake in Northern California. This trail became known as the Applegate Trail, and linked up with the northernmost branch of the California Trail.

Interstate 5 closely follows the original Siskiyou Trail route through the valley today.

Economic importance

The South Umpqua River valley became an important timber-producing region in the 20th century. In the 21st century, tourism became important to the South Umpqua Valley.

The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians received a land claims settlement from the US federal government in 1988.

Using the land claims settlement of $1.5 million, the Cow Creek Band operates a casino, hotel, convention center, and other businesses in Canyonville on the South Umpqua River.

South Umpqua Falls near Tiller is the site of a popular picnic area and United States Forest Service campground near the river. Open from May 1 to October 31, the campground has 16 sites suitable for tents or trailers.

See also

  • List of rivers of Oregon
  • List of longest streams of Oregon

References

Works cited

  • McArthur, Lewis A., and McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names, 7th ed. Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press. .
  • Photo of the river by McD22
  • Kalapuya Treaty