Amazon Creek
{{short description|Stream in Eugene, Oregon, United States of America}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Amazon Creek
| name_native =
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| image = Amazon Creek.JPG
| image_caption = Along the creek
| image_size = 300
| map =
| map_size = 300
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| pushpin_map = USA Oregon
| pushpin_map_size = 300
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of Amazon Creek in Oregon
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Oregon
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| subdivision_type4 = County
| subdivision_name4 = Lane
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| source1 = near Spencer Butte
| source1_location = Eugene
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|43|59|19|N|123|05|02|W|display=inline}}{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) | publisher = United States Geological Survey | date =November 28, 1980 | url ={{Gnis3|1116906}} | title = Amazon Creek|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|1079|ft|abbr=on}}Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
| mouth = Long Tom River
| mouth_location = west of Junction City
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|44|13|39|N|123|15|49|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|318|ft|abbr=on}}
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Amazon Creek is a stream that runs through southeastern and western Eugene, Oregon, United States. It is a tributary of the Long Tom River and is Eugene's second-largest waterway after the Willamette River.
Background
Amazon Creek's headwaters are located in Eugene's southeast hills near Spencer Butte. The creek bed has been altered from the foot of Spencer Butte so it flows north from Martin Street through Amazon Park in a channel. At 24th street it enters a 1.75 mile concrete channel. The stream travels north to 18th Avenue, turning west near High Street and continuing into the levee channel (diversion canal) near the Lane County Fairgrounds at Jefferson Street.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eugene-or.gov/1764/Land-and-Water-in-West-Eugene|title=Land and Water in West Eugene|website=www.eugene-or.gov|access-date=May 12, 2016}} It continues west to Fern Ridge Reservoir and the Long Tom River. It collects water from 21 square miles of urban landscapes and storm drains, providing flood control, wildlife habitat, and recreation.{{Cite news|title=Exploring Eugene's Amazon Creek|date=Spring 2016|work=Clean Water Connections from Raindrop to River|publisher=City of Eugene Stormwater Management Program}}
In 1946, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers widened, deepened, and realigned the creek from Hilyard Street to Fern Ridge Reservoir in a diversion canal as a means of controlling floodwaters in the area.{{cite book|title=Oregon Geographic Names|last=McArthur|first=Lewis|publisher=Oregon Historical Society Press|year=2003|isbn=0-87595-277-1|location=Portland|page=21}}{{cite gnis|id=1116907|name=Amazon Creek Diversion Channel|entrydate=November 28, 1980|accessdate=January 19, 2010}} The Amazon flood control project was completed in 1958, using a trapezoidal channel designed to withstand a 25-year flood.
The lower reach of Amazon Creek from Bailey Hill Road to the Coos Bay Rail Link (former Southern Pacific Railroad) rail line has been the subject of current restoration efforts to widen the creek and plant native species along the banks. The City of Eugene has designated Amazon Creek as a natural area, noting, "These areas support a wide diversity of plants and wildlife, including many endangered and rare species. These areas also provide valuable ecosystem services… and many other important functions that benefit our community."{{Cite web|url=http://friendsofamazoncreek.org/about|title=Friends of Amazon Creek » About|website=friendsofamazoncreek.org|access-date=May 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513095645/http://friendsofamazoncreek.org/about|archive-date=May 13, 2016|url-status=dead}}
Geography
=Coordinates=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
! Point !! Coordinate !! USGS Map name | |
| 1 mouth | {{coord|44.227623 |
| 123.263706|type:river_region:US-OR_source:gnis-1116906|name=Amazon Creek pt 1 (mouth)|display=inline}} | Cheshire |
| 2 | {{coord|44.217068 |
| 123.251206|type:river_region:US-OR_source:gnis-1116906|name=Amazon Creek pt 2}} | Junction City |
| 3 | {{coord|44.124846 |
| 123.236482|type:river_region:US-OR_source:gnis-1116906|name=Amazon Creek pt 3}} | Eugene West |
| 4 | {{coord|44.045958 |
| 123.125922|type:river_region:US-OR_source:gnis-1116906|name=Amazon Creek pt 4}} | Eugene East |
| 5 source | {{coord|43.988736 |
| 123.083975|type:river_region:US-OR_source:gnis-1116906|name=Amazon Creek pt 5 (source)}} | Creswell |
File:Amazon Creek Diversion Channel Meeting the Fern Ridge Reservoir.jpg
File:Drop Structure on the Amazon Creek Diversion Channel.jpg
File:Drop Structure on the Amazon Creek Diversion Channel in Summer.jpg
See also
References
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External links
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- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110727081525/http://www.metrowaterways.org/amazon.html Amazon Creek Priority Planning Area] from [http://www.metrowaterways.org Metro Waterways: A Study of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Region]
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