The Willamette River Field Guide

by Travis Williams

The Willamette River flows for nearly 200 miles, through deep forests, green valleys, and past cities—Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Albany, Salem, Keizer, Newberg, Oregon City, and Portland.

Yet it is a river hiding in plain until now, there has been no comprehensive guide to the Willamette.

Following the river downstream from its tributaries through its vast valleys and to the tidal flats beyond Portland, The Willamette River Field Guide is the story of Oregon's earliest inhabitants, the connection between the river and the towns along its banks, the wildlife it supports, and the effects of alterations to its geography and ecology. Includes tips for more than a dozen riverside visits and trips. Twelve maps cover each segment of the river. Beautiful new color photographs and rare historical photos help tell the story.

Travis Williams knows the river intimately and cares about it passionately. Whether you take in the views from land or water, or just dip into this fascinating guide from home, after reading this book you will know the Willamette River as you never have before.

218 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2009

Reviews

[Wendy Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great guide from the headwaters of the Willamette all the way to the river's convergence with the Columbia, this book should be required reading for anyone settling in the Willamette valley.

Can also double as a fantastic drinking game: every time you see the word "vast" (and it appears many, many times), do a shot!

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book was good, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. It had a lot of conservation/ecology stuff in it, and though I'm a die-hard conservation/ecology proponent, I don't need it in a field guide. Yes, I know we suck at rivers. We have always sucked at rivers, and even though we are trying to be better, we STILL suck at rivers. Got it. I liked the little wildlife call-outs, and the pictures were lovely. But as a field guide qua field guide, this left me wanting more, more about where to camp and where to pull out, more about where the private property starts and ends and less about how chemical runoff from agriculture threatens wildlife.