Middle Fork John Day River

The Middle Fork John Day River is a 73-mile (117 km) tributary of the North Fork John Day River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It originates in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon in the Malheur National Forest near Austin and flows generally west to the North Fork about 18 miles (29 km) above Monument. The Middle Fork drainage basin covers about 806 square miles (2,090 km²).[4]

Middle Fork John Day River
Middle Fork John Day River
Location of the mouth of the Middle Fork John Day River in Oregon
Etymology	John Day, fur trapper
Location
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Grant
Physical characteristics
Source	Blue Mountains
• location	near Austin, Grant County, Oregon
• coordinates	44°35′05″N 118°25′48″W[1]
• elevation	4,254 ft (1,297 m)[2]
Mouth	North Fork John Day River
• location	near Slickear Mountain, Grant County, Oregon
• coordinates	44°54′59″N 119°18′08″W[1]
• elevation	2,192 ft (668 m)[1]
Length	73.4 mi (118.1 km)[3]
Basin size	806 sq mi (2,090 km2)[4]
Discharge
• location	Ritter, Oregon, 14.9 miles (24.0 km) from the mouth[5][6]
• average	257 cu ft/s (7.3 m3/s)[5][6]
• minimum	0.90 cu ft/s (0.025 m3/s)
• maximum	4,730 cu ft/s (134 m3/s)

The Oregon Scenic Waterways Program, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), protects the river for most of its length. The state lists a 60-mile (97 km) segment of the Middle Fork from about 71 miles (114 km) from the mouth to about 11 miles (18 km) from the mouth as a Scenic River Area and the lower 11 miles (18 km) as a Natural River Area. People planning to cut trees, mine, build roads or structures, or make other substantial changes within ¹⁄₄ mile (0.40 km) of the river must first notify OPRD and seek its approval.[7]