Cedar River (Willapa Bay)

Cedar River
Cedar River (Willapa Bay) is located in Washington (state)
Cedar River (Willapa Bay)
Location of the mouth of the Cedar River in Washington
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyPacific
Physical characteristics
SourceWillapa Hills
 • coordinates46°45′46″N 124°3′17″W / 46.76278°N 124.05472°W / 46.76278; -124.05472[1][2]
 • elevation165 ft (50 m)[3]
MouthWillapa Bay
 • location
Tokeland, Washington
 • coordinates
46°44′10″N 123°58′30″W / 46.73611°N 123.97500°W / 46.73611; -123.97500[1]
 • elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Length8 mi (13 km)[4]

The Cedar River is a short stream flowing into the north end of Willapa Bay in the U.S. state of Washington.

The Cedar River originates near Seastrand Ridge in the Willapa Hills, about a mile east of the Pacific Ocean near Heather and Grayland Beach State Park, just south of Grayland. It flows east, then south, for about 8 mi (13 km) until emptying into the northern end of Willapa Bay near Tokeland, just east of Dexter by the Sea.[2]

The river's lowermost course runs through part of the North Willapa Bay Wildlife Area Unit,[5] part of the Johns River Wildlife Area.[6]

The mouth of the Cedar River merges with Willapa Bay in a tidally-influenced estuary. There is a 275 acre protected unit called the Cedar River Estuary, managed by Forterra. This area is a tidal ecosystem with salt marshes, tidelands, and coniferous forests. It also includes Oyster Island, Bone Creek, and Norris Slough.[7]

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cedar River
  2. ^ a b USGS topographic maps accessed via https://mapper.acme.com
  3. ^ GeoLocator
  4. ^ Measured using GNIS coordinates, Google Map, and ACME Mapper 2.2
  5. ^ "North Willapa Bay Wildlife Area Unit". Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Johns River Wildlife Area". Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Shoreline Analysis Report for Shorelines in Pacific County" (PDF). Washington State Department of Ecology. Retrieved 1 September 2019.