Rogue Basin

“Headwaters of the Rogue River flow from the west slopes of Crater Lake and the southern Cascades to the Pacific Ocean. This basin has an extremely complex geologic structure and corresponding vegetation patterns. From the lava and pumice of the southern Cascade volcanoes, the middle Rogue River flows through the relatively populated Medford-Ashland area with its orchards and irrigated agriculture. Mining and forestry are also significant economic sectors in the basin. Fisheries for Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Rogue are world famous. Coho salmon in the Rogue are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Rogue River cuts through the Coast Range and enters the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach, where mail boat tours take visitors upriver and salmon fishing is a yearly ritual.

Two of the many geologic marvels of the basin are Lower and Upper Table Rock, which rise dramatically 800 feet above the Rogue River Valley, flat-topped remnants of lava flows that filled the canyons of an ancient, meandering Rogue River over seven million years ago. Atop the Table Rocks is a mosaic of grassy mounds, stony flats and vernal, or seasonal, ponds.”

Content featured on the Oregon Explorer, "Learn about Places: Rogue Basin" site, information compiled by science writing consultant John Ame.