Bound by the McKenzie River to the north and the Willamette River to the south, Springfield is a city of rivers. The Environmental Services Division is dedicated to protecting the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers by ensuring clean, safe water and complying with state and federal requirements.
The Willamette River is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows primarily north. Starting high in the Oregon Cascades, the Middle Fork of the Willamette flows westward for over 100 miles, passing through three flood-control reservoirs. The Coast Fork, which begins west of Cottage Grove, joins the the Middle Fork near Springfield. From there, the river flows 100 miles north through the Willamette Valley, joining the Columbia River near Portland.
Additional Resources on the Willamette River.
Willamette
River Recreation Guide
Willamette RiverKeepers
American Heritage
Rivers
Willamette National
Forest
The McKenzie River is a classic Pacific Northwest River. The headwaters come from three wilderness areas high in the Cascade Mountains. The river runs through many rural communities on its way west, providing drinking water, hydroelectric generation, recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat before passing Springfield to the north, and joining the Willamette River in Eugene.
Additional Resources on the McKenzie River.
McKenzie Watershed
Council
Willamette
National Forest-McKenzie Corridor
The McKenzie Drift Boat
Symbol of the City of Springfield
The City of Springfield adopted the McKenzie drift boat as the community's
official symbol on March 26, 1985 to commemorate the importance of this famous
boat in the history of Springfield and the McKenzie River. Early versions
of the boat, created by Veltie Pruitt and Prince Helfrich, floated the McKenzie
River in the early 1900s. After years of changes to the craft, boat builder
Woodie 'Knoble' Hindman developed the present design in 1946 on Main Street
in Springfield. Today, this well-known craft is used around the world on streams
and rivers requiring a sturdy, agile boat to handle their perilous rapids.
A detailed one-half scale model is on display in Springfield City Hall.
Did you know?
The Willamette River was on the cover of a 1972 National
Geographic as a "River Restored."