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LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER NATURAL AREA INVENTORY

1992

John A. Christy and Judy A. Putera Oregon Natural Heritage Program

Report to The Nature Conservancy, Washington Filed Office, Seattle

3 February 1993 INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to identify remnant habitat approximating conditions prior to Euroamerican settlement, along the floodplain of the lower Columbia River. About 143 river miles were examined in both Oregon and Washington, between Bonneville Dam and the mouth of the river, as well as lower portions of Chinook River, Elochoman River, Grays River, Lewis River, Youngs River and the Willamette River. Our objective was to produce a list of sites, ranked by the relative importance of their elements, for use in setting priorities for protection. We also wanted to examine the historical record, to document the composition of natural communities at the time of settlement, and their subsequent disturbance. Previous work

Reports of presettlement vegetation along the lower Columbia River are few and fragmentary. Most mention of plants or plant communities are made in conjunction with human activities such as exploration or commerce, and are exceedingly vague. Much of our knowledge had to be inferred from what little there is in the historical record, and from what remains along the river today.

The journals of early botanists such as Douglas (1914) and Scouler (1905) are not particularly helpful in

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reconstructing presettlement vegetation. Their comments were general, and localities are difficult to identify. Howell (1897-1903), Piper and Beattie (1915) and Gorman (1926) provided a few clues for some herbaceous elements of the floodplain flora around Portland, as do a few herbarium specimens at Oregon State University and the University of Oregon.

Survey notes from the General Land Office, made between 1851 and 1865, are the only reliable source for information about original riparian vegetation, although by that time the region had already been settled by Euroamericans for 25 years. Surveyors were required to list major trees and shrubs, and general descriptions provide some information on the structure of bottomland vegetation, floodplain lakes, riparian forest and the incidence of annual floods. They were not required to describe herbaceous plants, and we know least about this important part of the original flora. Of all the native vegetation along the river, the herb layer has suffered the greatest impacts from grazing, exotic weeds, and flood control, and is the most problematic to reconstruct.

Frenkel and Eilers (1976) sampled vegetation in a freshwater intertidal marsh near Cathlamet Bay, the earliest description of this community known to us. Tabor (1976a, 1976b) conducted a habitat inventory along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The report, based on field work conducted between 1973 and 1975 by teams from three universities, remains the most comprehensive document available on the abundance and distribution of habitat types along the river. Vegetation was mapped on a coarse scale from air photos, using species dominance, stand structure and landform. The mapping was supported by data from vegetation transects, 48 of which were located below Bonneville Dam. No attempt was made to describe or classify plant communities beyond what was needed for mapping. Because the study was intended to document existing habitat along the river, many of the areas sampled were dominated by exotic species.

Morrison (1973) and Wiberg and Greene (1981) described Blackwater Island Research Natural Area, in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Hinschberger (1978) surveyed the entire study area during an inventory of small mammal habitat, and included descriptions of the major plant communities along the river. Thomas (1980, 1984) described vegetation sampled in and near Cathlamet Bay, and reported several plant species

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new to the Pacific Northwest. Cornelius (1985), Gehring (1990) and Scherer (1991) reported on specific problems associated with the rare plant Rorippa columbiae, but all work was restricted to Pierce Island. Vanderschaaf (1986) described Tenasillahe Island Research Natural Area, on the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge. Hibbs (1987) described chages on islands between the Willamette River and Bonneville Dam. Maxwell (1991) described a number of plant communities and new state records from the Washington side of the river.

The recent draft environmental impact statement for the proposed land exchange at Tongue Point (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service et al. 1992) contains much information for the lower river in the vicinity of Cathlamet Bay.

Many early reports, and more recent environmental impact statements prepared by the Army Corps of Engineers no doubt contain a wealth of information for sites along the river, but we did not have time to consult these. METHODS Sources

Aerial photography dating back to 1929 is housed at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District. Although early photo coverage is not inclusive, the collection is an invaluable reference for tracking changes in shorelines and for some types of vegetation. Miscellaneous photographs of the river are also housed at the Oregon Historical Society.

Primary sources of information for rare plant and animal species, and rare plant communities were the Oregon Natural Heritage Program (1988, 1991), the Washington Natural Heritage Program (1990, 1991), Marshall et al. (1992) and the Washington Department of Wildlife.

Historical information was obtained from the Oregon Historical Society (Portland), the Washington Historical Society (Tacoma), the Washington State Library (Olympia), the National Archives (Seattle), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Portland), the Oregon state office of the Bureau of Land Management (Portland), the Multnomah County Library (Portland)

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and James River Corporation (Vancouver).

Herbarium collections were consulted at Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. Selection of sites

We selected sites that were free from obvious surface disturbance, as shown on recent aerial photography housed at the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Oregon Division of State Lands. Urban and industrialized areas were not sampled. Areas were rejected if they contained recognizable improvements such as dikes, buildings and roads, or had recently been grazed, logged or covered with dredge spoils. A few areas with such alterations were sampled for comparative purposes, or because specific elements were known to be present.

We investigated a number of sites after checking records

housed at the Oregon and Washington Natural Heritage Programs. Some of the information on these sites was 15 years old, and needed to be updated. Several other sites were investigated specifically because they were currently being offered for sale.

In the field, most sites were accessed from the river, using a 15 foot rowboat with a 25 hp motor. Sites were rejected if they had a large amount of exotic species, or recent disturbance not evident in aerial photos. We completed species lists for most sites visited, and recorded plant cover data in plots of 10 m radius at sites judged to have the best representation of natural vegetation. The data forms were deposited at the Oregon and Washington Natural Heritage Programs. Ranking of sites and plant community element occurrences

The relative importance of sites inventoried (Appendix 1) was ranked according to the criteria in Table 1. For plant community elements, global and state ranks, and element occurrence ranks (Appendix 2) were assigned according to standards established by The Nature Conservancy (1988).

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Nomenclature

Plant names used here are those of Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973) and Cronquist et al. (1977). Although a number of nomenclatural changes have been made recently by some authors, most are not included here because they would be unfamiliar to most users. Place names are those used on USGS topographic maps. RESULTS

Our field season extended from 17 June to 21 October 1992. In 44 field days, we investigated and ranked 92 sites between Bonneville Dam and the mouth of the river (Appendix 1). High-ranked sites

Not surprisingly, two factors diminished our chances of finding areas free from the effects of Euroamerican settlement. First, the lower Columbia River has suffered impacts from settlement and commerce for about 170 years, 120 years before the construction of Bonneville Dam. Second, the entire floodplain has been altered by 100 years of channel manipulation and 50 years of flood control. Virtually all features of the floodplain have been affected to a greater or lesser degree.

Table 2 lists 17 sites that we consider to be the best remaining unprotected examples of conditions approximating those prior to Euroamerican settlement. Animals

We observed 17 species of rare, threatened, endangered or sensitive animal species (Table 3). Previously documented element occurrences of animals are listed in Appendix 1. The great egret, sandhill crane, brown pelican, greater yellowlegs and western grebe are either summer to fall migrants or wintering species. All other taxa listed in Table 3 are known to breed within the study area.

No amphibians and few reptiles were seen during the

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course of the survey. With the exception of one active heron rookery on Price Island, all bird sighting were of foraging or roosting animals, primarily due to the late date of the survey period.

Breeding colonies of great blue herons occur on Hunting, Ryan, Whites, Fisher, Cottonwood, Reed, and Pierce Islands, and at Vancouver Lake. Herons were observed feeding in shallow island inlets and near mudflats of the river shoreline throughout the length of the study area. A large concentration of 22 birds was observed feeding at Campbell Lake in late summer.

1. Green-backed heron. A state-monitored species in Washington, one heron was observed on Hunting Islands and two were seen feeding in mudflats on Sandy Island. 2. Great egret. Observed at three locations in the area of Ridgefield NWR. A large concentration of 21 birds was seen at Campbell Lake in late September.

3. Sandhill crane. Large fall concentrations of cranes were observed near Ridgefield at Canvasback and Campbell Lakes. 4. Greater yellowlegs. Seen foraging at Lord Island, Poysky Slough, and at several locations on the Washington side of the river.

5. Brown pelican. Several groups were observed in July at the mouth of the river on West Sand and East Sand Islands.

6. Caspian tern. Rice Island, created by dredge spoils, currently is the only known breeding colony of the Caspian tern in the study area. They were known to breed on East Sand Island in the mid 1980's. We observed terns foraging along the entire length of the study area, while larger concentrations of resting birds were observed on the mudflats at East Sand Island and Fisher Island.

7. Purple martin. Observed at Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Hunting and Ryan Islands, Ridgefield NWR and

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Franz Lake NWR. Reported previously from both sides of the river, nesting in old pilings and nest boxes.

8. Turkey vulture. A state-monitored species in Washington, vultures occur in the area from March through late September. A roosting individual was observed at the Robert W. Little Preserve on Puget Island, on Fisher Island and near the mouth of the Lewis River. Soaring birds were observed upriver from mile 24. A colonial roost was reported in 1981 on the Julia Butler Hansen NWR in the vicinity of river mile 35. In late September, we saw approximately 15 vultures congregated near Wauna at river mile 43, apparently staging prior to migration.

9. Bald eagle. Eagle nests and winter populations are well documented along the lower Columbia River (Garrett et al. 1988). We observed individuals flying or roosting in Cathlamet Bay, Grays Bay, and on Karlson, Hunting and Lords Islands, Rinearson Slough, Lewis River and Pierce Island. Active nests, although not observed during this survey, have been documented for several of the areas we surveyed (Appendix 1).

10. Osprey. Tracked only in Washington, we saw ospreys at Price, Hunting, Skamania, Pierce and Fisher Islands, the mouth of the Lewis River, and Beacon Rock State Park. In Oregon, several osprey were observed at Gary, Flag, and Chatham Islands. Nests have been documented previously at several of the sites surveyed.

11. Vaux's swift. A single sighting near the river's edge at Beacon Rock State Park.

12. Peregrine falcon. Seen once, perched at West Sand Island.

13. Western grebe. Seen once near the north end of Sauvie Island.

14. Columbian white-tailed deer. Seen on Hunting Islands and common in diked pastures at Julia Butler

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Hansen NWR.

15. Harbor seal. Seen at Hunting Islands.

16. Painted turtle. A species of concern in Oregon, four individuals were seen basking on logs at Millionaires Lake on Sauvie Island. They were also frequent in roadside ditches on the Ridgefield NWR, outside of our study area. We saw tracks of unidentified turtles on Sand Island, at river mile 112, where they had crossed the beach and scaled a 20-foot sandy cutbank.

Plants

We observed 7 species of rare, threatened, endangered or sensitive plant species (Table 4).

Although many exotic species exist along the river, four pose special management problems and will eventually require control.

1. Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Ubiquitous along the lower Columbia River, and second only to diking and clearing in the wetland acreage it has degraded or destroyed.

2. Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus). Probably the second most serious pest on the river, rapidly expanding into the interior of otherwise undisturbed wetlands by means of its ubiquitous floating seeds. 3. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Occurs throughout the length of the study area, in small to moderate numbers but with regular frequency. We saw extensive infestations at five sites in Oregon, between Crims Island and Wallace Island, and between Lord Island and Walker Island. Releases of biocontrol insects should be initiated here. All sightings will be reported to state weed control authorities in Oregon and Washington.

4. False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa). Invading the lower Columbia River and known as far downriver as

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Cathlamet (Glad and Halse 1993). This species may eventually dominate better-drained sites above the intertidal zone. All of these taxa should be listed as noxious weeds

by both Oregon and Washington. It is unfortunate that all are readily available from the grass seed trade and nurseries. Plant Communities

Cover data were recorded in 105 vegetation plots, and were used to identify 43 plant communities, which we consider to be elements, along the lower Columbia River (Table 5). Many of these communities are restricted to specific segments along the river. Global and state ranks are given in Appendix 2 for all communities occurring in Oregon, and a few are recommended for those in Washington. Ranking and size of plant community element occurrences are also given in Appendix 2.

We considered seven plant communities to be rare regionally or globally.

1. Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa (Columbia River mugwort-tufted hairgrass cobble community). Should be ranked G1S1. This community is limited to river miles 140 to 145, just below Bonneville Dam, where the substrate is occasionally-flooded cobbles and gravels mixed with silts. The only known occurrences are both on the Washington side of the river, and are probably relicts of a once more widespread Columbia River Gorge community, now inundated by the water behind Bonneville Dam (Cornelius 1985).

2. Carex aperta (Columbia sedge community). Should be ranked G1S1. This species once formed "extensive meadows on overflow bottomlands in the valley of the Columbia and its tributaries...largely cut for hay and regarded by farmers as the best forage sedge" and was "common about Columbia Slough etc." (Gorman 1926). Piper and Beattie (1915) said it was "the common hay sedge of the Columbia

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River bottoms." It probably extended from Longview to Skamania. The only known remaining example covers about two acres near Vancouver Lake. Elsewhere, it has been completely displaced by reed canary grass. The sedge itself is not rare, and can be found mixed with canary grass in many areas, but it is never plentiful.

3. Elymus mollis (American dunegrass community). Ranked G1S1 in Oregon. This species was once the dominant native grass on coastal foredunes. Although it was planted sparingly in dune stabilization programs beginning in 1916, it has been largely displaced throughout its range by the more aggressive European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria), the species most commonly used for stabilization (Arnst 1942; McLaughlin and Brown 1942). The single population that we saw on East Sand Island may have been planted, and was not a high-quality occurrence. The island has been augmented by accretion and dredge spoil deposition since engineering began at the mouth of the river in 1885.

4. Festuca rubra (Red fescue dune community). Ranked G1S1 in Oregon. Red fescue was a common sod-forming grass of open, stabilized sand dunes on the outer coast. It was the dominant grass on the Clatsop Plains at the time of settlement, but overgrazing and trailing by livestock destroyed the sod and caused new dunes to form. Like American dunegrass, it was planted occasionally for dune stabilization, but has been displaced largely by the more aggressive European beachgrass (Arnst 1942; McLaughlin and Brown 1942). Its occurrence on West Sand Island is the primary reason for proposed designation of a Research Natural Area by the Army Corps of Engineers. Presence of active blowouts, and a relatively early stage of succession within the proposed RNA were probably caused by overgrazing when the island was used as a base for horse seining in Baker Bay.

5. Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera (Sitka spruce swamp). Ranked G3S2 in Oregon. These stands typically have Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis shrub swamp in their interior, with spruce trees

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more frequent on natural levees formed along tidal sloughs. This wetland type originally extended from southeast Alaska to about Tillamook Bay, Oregon. Although about 200 acres remain in three stands known as far south as the Nehalem River, those on the lower Columbia River are the largest and southernmost occurrences left on the Pacific coast. Stands on the river originally extended from the Chinook River to Westport, covering an estimated 12,500 acres in Washington and 6500 acres in Oregon. About 1500 acres (23%) remain on the Oregon shore, and about 700 (6%) on the Washington shore. These figures include interior stands of shrub swamp, excluded in Tabor's (1976a) estimate of 1683.35 acres of spruce swamp for both states.

6. Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica (Oregon ash/nettle woodland). Ranked G3S2 in Oregon. This community forms seasonally wet stands with few or no cottonwoods, and is often laced with sloughs and vernal pools. It was probably widespread on bottomlands between Longview and Skamania, and also occurred in the Willamette Valley. Grazing and reed canary grass have degraded these stands to such an extent that it is difficult to reconstruct what the original herb layer might have been. No high-quality occurrences were seen during the survey.

7. Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica (Pacific willow/nettle riparian woodland). Ranked G3S2 in Oregon. This community is wetter and is an earlier seral type than the Oregon ash/nettle woodland. It also has been degraded by grazing and reed canary grass. No high-quality occurrences were seen during the survey.

Reinterpretation of river segments

Tabor (1976a), the Oregon Natural Heritage Program (1988) and the Washington Natural Heritage Program (1991) divided the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam into three segments, based on coastal, coast range and interior valley physiography. Our observations of vegetation, hydrology and other physical features on the floodplain suggest that four segments characterize the area better than those delineated previously.

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1. Brackish tidelands. River miles 1 to 8, from Clatsop Spit to Chinook River and Hammond. Despite the intrusion of marine salts to river mile 18 or 20, distinct salt marsh communities extend only to about river mile 8. All of these are low-salinity marshes, distinguished by the lack of typical high-salinity marsh species such as Salicornia virginica and Jaumea carnosa (Thomas 1980, 1984). Common communities are the estuarine associations of Scirpus americanus and Carex lynbyei, and forb-rich higher marshes typified by Aster subspicatus, Deschampsia cespitosa and Potentilla pacifica. The average tidal fluctuation is about eight feet.

2. Freshwater tidelands. River miles 8 to 65, Chinook River and Hammond to Longview. The floodplain along this segment of the river is of low relief, typically flooded or subirrigated at high tide, and permeated by conspicuous, dendritic and meandering tidal streams and sloughs. Cut banks, when present, show mucky soils with high organic content. Flooding associated with winter storms and high tides often drive floating logs and other debris into the interior of riparian swamps. Historically, these lands overflowed during spring floods, but usually were not subject to high energy, destructive flows. Thousand of acres of bottomland have been diked and cleared for agriculture, and the tidal streams cut off with tide gates. The wettest portions currently are dominated by freshwater associations of Carex lyngbyei and Scirpus americanus, the former extending upriver to Crims island, the latter to Cottonwood Island, just upstream from Longview. Slightly higher sites are dominated by shrub swamps of Cornus stolonifera, Salix lasiandra and Salix sitchensis, with stands of Fraxinus latifolia and Populus trichocarpa occurring on natural levees along the tidal streams. Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera swamps historically ranged from the Chinook River to Westport. The Chinook River floodplain also contains two freshwater shrub-swamp communities (Pyrus fusca-Salix hookeriana/Carex obnupta and Salix hookeriana-Spiraea douglasii) typical of outer coastal habitats, and not seen elsewhere on the river.

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3. Overflow plains. Longview to Skamania, river miles 65 to 140. Elevations in this segment of the floodplain are generally higher, and shorelines upriver from Portland typically have sandy cutbanks. Although hydric soils are common, the moisture regime is seasonal rather than perennial, and soils are better drained. The dendritic, meandering tidal streams of the previous segment are replaced by linear, shallow troughs and low ridges that are parallel to the river. These are relics of the extensive reworking of sediments by high-energy floods that occurred prior to flood control. Broad, shallow overflow lakes and ponds are common. These originally were recharged annually by the June flood, and many dried up by late summer. Recharge of most of these is now limited to precipitation. As in the previous segment, thousands of acres of bottomland have been diked and the sloughs gated. Weirs were installed on many of the overflow lakes to retain water for livestock and duck hunting. The wettest sites currently are dominated by extensive stands of Eleocharis palustris in shallows along the river, Salix fluviatilis on sandy banks and bars, and Salix lasiandra on wet flats along channels and around overflow lakes. The Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica association occurs on slightly higher sites protected by natural levees. The understory has been degraded extensively by grazing and invasion of reed canary grass. Higher banks and the tops of natural levees are dominated by associations of Fraxinus latifolia and Populus trichocarpa, with Cornus stolonifera, Symphoricarpos albus and Urtica dioica. Historically, several plant communities occurred in this segment that are now extremely rare or extirpated, including Carex aperta marsh, Deschampsia cespitosa prairie, and oak savanna with an understory probably dominated by Festuca rubra and Danthonia californica. Sand deposition between Government Island and Skamania Island formed extensive tidal flats, and east winds from the Columbia River Gorge blew sand into towering dunes on the Oregon shore in the vicinity of Rooster Rock State Park. Although the dunes on the mainland have been stabilized by vegetation, those on Sand Island are still active, and are the last such features on the lower Columbia River.

4. Columbia River Gorge. Skamania to Bonneville Dam, river miles 140 to 145. This short stretch of

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river is characterized by a coarse substrate of cobble and gravels, presumably derived from the Table Mountain landslide that formed the former falls and rapids known as The Cascades. There are few wetlands on the floodplain, and the rocky shores have a sparse flora. Tidal influence reaches zero at Warrendale, just below Beacon Rock. The rare Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa plant community is restricted to this segment. These five miles are all that remain of what was a much more extensive reach of river, now inundated by the waters behind Bonneville Dam.

IMPACTS OF EUROAMERICAN SETTLEMENT Alteration of flood regimes

The Columbia River drains an area of 259,000 square miles. Prior to the construction of dams on the Columbia and its tributaries, the lower river flooded under two distinct seasonal regimes, one initiated by winter rain west of the Cascades, the other by spring snowmelt east of the Cascades.

While winter floods were usually more local in distribution, spring floods affected the entire reach of river below what is now Bonneville Dam. Flood heights gradually diminished downstream, and below river mile 40 the broad estuary and strong tidal influence dissipated its effects. Floodwaters of 20 to 30 feet at Vancouver would rise to only two to five feet in the estuary (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1948, 1988).

1. Winter floods. The winter "rain floods" result from runoff generated by seasonal rain storms in and west of the Cascade Range, an area comprising only about 3% of the Columbia River watershed. Some 25 dams in the Cowlitz, Lewis and Willamette River basins have diminished major winter flooding on these streams. Rain floods generally crest and abate within one or two days, and originally occurred primarily on the tributaries or at their confluences with the Columbia River. Such storms caused the Columbia to flood an average of once every five years. Notable winter floods on the

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Columbia occurred in 1881, 1909, 1917, 1933, 1941, 1946, 1964 and 1974. The largest of these, in 1964, was 29.5 feet above mean low water at Vancouver (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1948, 1988).

Winter flooding also occurs between the mouth of the river and Puget Island, when high winter tides coincide with high winds and runoff from major storms, to raise water levels four to five feet above predicted high winter tides of nine or 10 feet. Some of these events can drive floating debris far into the interior of stands of riparian vegetation. The 1933 rain flood combined with winter high tides to reach a stage in the estuary equaling that of the 1894 flood.

2. Spring floods. About 93% of the Columbia River watershed is east of the Cascade Range, extending all the way to the Rocky Mountains. This region has a cold continental climate, and the primary source of high water is from snowmelt, occurring between April and August. Before the dams were built, spring floods were often higher and lasted much longer than winter floods. Most occurred each year in May or June. The average "June flood" regularly inundated 170,000 acres of bottomland along the lower Columbia River for periods up to 60 days. Major floods inundated 250,000 to 300,000 acres.

The spring floods were the primary force influencing landforms and vegetation on the river bottoms. The average annual flood reached a stage of 21.5 ft. above mean low water at Vancouver, a had a flow of about 600,000 cfs. These average flows were punctuated periodically by huge flows that had tremendous impact on riparian habitats. Spring floods greater than 600,000 cfs occurred 46 times between 1858 and 1956. Floods between 800,000 and 900,000 cfs occurred in 1859, 1866, 1871, 1882, 1887 and 1956. Floods exceeded 900,000 cfs in 1862, 1876, 1880, 1894 and 1948. The largest of these, in 1894, reached 1,254,000 cfs, twice as large as the average spring flood. Floodwaters reached 43 feet above mean low water at Beacon Rock and 36.2 feet at Vancouver, diminishing to about 12 feet at the mouth of the river. A spring flood in 1849 was probably of the same magnitude (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1948, 1988).

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Aerial photographs showing flooded bottomland are housed

at the Oregon Historical Society, and most depict areas between Longview and Crown Point. Over enormous areas of bottomland, only the tops of ash, Pacific willow and cottonwood trees were visible at highest flood stages, the lakes and sloughs all being inundated.

Historical accounts of floods in rural areas along the lower Columbia River are hard to find. Surveyors for the General Land Office noted in the 1850's that "the Columbia bottoms...are all overflowed by the river in high water", "subject to annual inundation varying from one to fifteen feet deep" and "subject to overflow from the high waters of the Columbia River which occurs annually...in the first of May and continuing until the middle of July, during which time the farmers may sail over their farms in boats." Bottomlands at Rooster Rock State Park flooded from four to 20 feet. On Puget Island, "water stood on practically all the land for several months each year" (Butler 1953). Sauvie Island "was inundated almost every year by the floods and back waters of the two rivers" (Cleaver 1989).

Diking, more than 200 hydroelectric and storage dams,

irrigation diversions and a long-term decline in precipitation have diminished the occurrence of floods along the lower Columbia River. Comparison of early and contemporary photographs shows some striking changes along the river, due primarily to flood control, and to a lesser extent, channel controls such as pile dikes. Most obvious is a change in shorelines on both islands and the mainland, caused by accretion of sediment. Many islands between Portland and Bonneville Dam had wide aprons of sand and gravel flats around their upstream ends, and cutbanks where flood waters scoured away sediments and vegetation. Undermined vegetation dumped into the river and piled up at the upper ends of islands downstream. Some of these features are still active at Reed, Sand and Skamania Islands. Most islands between Puget Island and Bonneville Dam have increased in size, and many interior sloughs have silted in. The Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra community has populated former sand and gravel flats, expanding the size of islands and shorelines, to the detriment of Rorippa columbiae and the Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa community at the upper end of the study area (Cornelius 1985; Scherer 1991). Shallow overflow lakes and ponds have diminished in size because of similar siltation and

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encroachment of upland vegetation. Diking and drainage for agriculture The history of diking and drainage on the lower Columbia River reflects the history of increasing use of the floodplain for purposes incompatible with the annual floods. Surveyors for the General Land Office noted that most of the bottomlands were already claimed at the time of survey, as was true for much of the area between Longview and Portland, while much of the uplands were still unclaimed. The waterfront was the best location for commercial traffic, boats and barges were the only means of transportation, and the bottomlands had the best soils for farming if they could be drained.

Government surveyors considered Sauvie Island "very valuable for pasturage [but]...too wet except on the highest places for agriculture." On Puget Island, "high tides made certain parts of the island uninhabitable" (Butler 1953), and "no one lived on the island year round as the water depth was a problem at times...in 1880 folks began planting a garden and pasturing a cow in the wild green vegetation" (Jones 1973). The 1894 flood "covered the roofs of the houses and every living person and animal had to go to the mainland" (Butler 1953). At Stella, "each spring the freshet brought high water to anything along its banks...the buildings along the river were built on stilts to allow for this occurrence...in June 1894...the water was so high, the steamboats couldn't land...Willow Grove had to deal with high water every spring and all the homes were built on stilts...Every year the farmers had to move their cattle to higher ground" (Stella Historical Society 1989). At Skamokawa, the three "valley bottoms were completely covered with water...the Stanard family in Middle Valley eventually abandoned their farm, due to the constant severe flooding of the freshet, which destroyed their farm almost annually" (Martin 1985).

The first dikes on the lower Columbia River were constructed in 1899 by the Warrenton Diking District (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1988). By the 1890's, diking was underway in both Middle Valley and on Brooks Slough behind Skamokawa (Martin 1985). Klatskanie had dikes by 1912. Portions of Tenasillahe Island, Brownsmead and bottomland between Coal Creek and Kelso were ditched and diked by 1914 (Butler 1953; Stella Historical Society 1989). By 1917, 4000

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acres had been diked on Puget Island, but half remained undiked as late as 1929. Karlson Island was diked by local interests prior to 1936 (Jones 1973). Some 2500 to 3000 acres of spruce and cottonwood swamp on the mainland portion of what is now Julia Butler Hansen NWR persisted as late as 1929, although construction of dikes had begun.

Formation or reorganization of diking districts accelerated between 1935 and 1940 to comply with provisions of the 1936 Flood Control Act. The act authorized funding for 65 projects by the Army Corps of Engineers, including construction or rehabilitation of dikes, riverbank protection, ditching and pumping facilities. The Corps helped construct 42 of the projects, 11 were built by local interests, and six were built as relief projects during the Depression. By 1948, 99,000 acres, or 58% of the floodplain, had been diked (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1948). The 1950 Flood Control Act authorized 32 diking projects, only 13 of which were completed (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1988).

We did not have time to research the acreage of floodplain diked, nor the vegetation types affected. Soil surveys for Oregon (Green 1983; Smythe 1986; Smith and Shipman 1988) indicate that almost 49,500 acres have been diked along the Columbia River. Soil surveys from Washington do not include data on diked lands. Channel alterations for navigation

Dredging and construction of a multitude of pile dikes has been done by the Army Corps of Engineers and port districts on the lower Columbia River. The primary purpose is to maintain flows and depth for a primary shipping channel for the entire length of the river. Freighter traffic is limited to the reach between Astoria and Portland, and barge traffic extends all the way upriver to Lewiston, Idaho.

Early Columbia River pile dikes were at widely scattered locations and not under a comprehensive plan. In 1878 a 6,200-foot longitudinal pile dike was constructed at St. Helens (Hickson 1961). Jetties at the Columbia Bar at the mouth of the river were built between 1885 and 1917 (McLaughlin and Brown 1942, Hickson 1961). Other dikes were constructed by the Port of Portland at Martin Island, Walker Island and Snag Islands. In the river channel between

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Vancouver and Cathlamet, 150 spur dikes and 100 contraction dikes were built between 1916 to 1930, and 50 more by 1960 (Hickson 1961).

The most obvious result of pile dikes and dredge spoil disposal has been the accretion of sediments around wing dams, formation of new islands, and an increase in the size of existing islands. A large amount of new habitat has formed as a result, and some sites (e.g., Miller Sands, Rice Island, Jim Crow Sands) have become some of the most valuable wildlife habitat on the lower river. Much new habitat is wetland, but many weeds also thrive on higher elevations. The most extensive stands of purple loosestrife on the lower river occur on dredge spoil islands near Wallace Island.

Beginning in the 1860's, the Army Corps of Engineers removed thousands of submerged snags from channels in the Willamette River, and cut streamside forests when they were thought to be a hazard to navigation (Sedell and Luchessa 1981, Sedell and Froggatt 1984, Sedell 1986). Presumably, this activity also occurred on the lower Columbia River. Removal of snags and streamside trees greatly altered channel morphology, and greatly reduced the input of organic material that was an important source of food and habitat for river fauna. Fishing

Although we did not include fish in our inventory, we were impressed by the widespread remains of a voracious fishing industry that went into decline in the 1920's. The gill net fishery of today is but a shadow of an industry that included horse seining, fish traps, fishwheels, saltworks and canneries.

Many shallow areas between Puget Island and Astoria had

horse seining operations dating back to the 1860's (Butler 1953; Jones 1973; McClelland 1974; Martin 1985). Some of the sand bars had horse barns, canneries and cookhouses built on pilings, to avoid high tides. West Sand Island had four or five canning or seining companies operating there, and horses were grazed on the island. This activity peaked in 1926 and was banned in Washington in 1935.

In the 1890's, packing houses at Skamokawa took in as

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many as 40 tons of sturgeon in a single day. One company, located on Price Island opposite Nassa Point, was the largest of four firms on the Columbia River that processed sturgeon (Martin 1985).

Fish traps and fishwheels appeared on the river in 1879. In 1900, more than 500 of these extended from Fort Canby to what is now Bonneville Dam. They were outlawed by Oregon in 1926 and by Washington in 1934 (Donaldson and Cramer 1971).

The first cannery on the Columbia River was built at Eagle Cliff in 1867. By 1877 there were 29, and by 1883 there were 39 below Oak Point (Appelo 1969; McClelland 1974). Canneries were also located at Rooster Rock and Warrendale (Donaldson & Cramer 1971).

Thousands of rotting pilings are all that remain of this industry on the lower Columbia. Since 1910, runs of anadromous fish on the Columbia River have declined 85 to 90% (Northwest Power Planning Council 1987; Pacific Coast Joint Venture 1992). Although most of this decline resulted from construction of dams on the Columbia River, overfishing early in the century certainly exacerbated the problem. Grazing and farming

We did not research the history of grazing or farming along the river, but their impacts are evident on all but the wettest sites. It is well known that the Hudson Bay Company had dairy and beef herds on Sauvie Island and the floodplain east of Fort Vancouver as early as the 1820's. Beginning in 1850, hay was grown on Government Island for horses quartered at Vancouver Barracks. General Land Office survey maps of the early 1850's show farm fields on the floodplain at Sauvie Island and on the south shore east of Portland. These practices extended up and down the river in the following decades. Thousands of acres of floodplain were developed for dairy farming as soon as dikes were completed.

Aerial photography from 1929 onwards shows that nearly

every large island upstream from Puget Island had people living on it. Prior to the widespread construction of dikes, houses were built on stilts, and people and livestock had to move to higher ground during the annual spring floods. Most of the undiked islands no longer have people living on them,

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and a declining number are still grazed by cattle. Notable exceptions are Martin, Deer, Sauvie and Government Islands, where grazing is still severe. Grazing is likewise severe elsewhere on the floodplain, especially on mainland areas, including most of the National Wildlife Refuges upstream from Longview. Cattle had only been removed recently from Reed Island State Park, Rooster Rock State Parks, and Franz Lake NWR.

The worst legacy left by cattle grazing on the floodplain of the lower Columbia River are the thousands of acres contaminated by reed canary grass. Promoted as a hardy wetland forage species by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Soil Conservation Service and county extension agents (e.g., Schoth 1938; Hafenrichter et al. 1968; Hannaway and McGuire 1981), it was planted widely between 1940 and 1960, and is still available today. It spread aggressively into unplanted areas, and as far as natural areas are concerned, it remains an unmanageable catastrophe (Apfelbaum and Sams 1987). Fate of the original riparian forests

The primary tree species on the floodplain of the lower Columbia River are cottonwood, ash, Pacific willow and Sitka spruce. We saw no old-growth stands of these in the study area, although we saw individual trees that were unquestionably old. The history of exploitation of the river's riparian forests and swamps by Euroamericans is very poorly documented. Virtually all stands were logged at least once, the wood used for lumber, fuel and paper pulp.

Removal of thousands of submerged snags and streamside trees to improve navigation would have extensively altered the structure and habitat value of riparian forests along the river. Sedell and Froggatt (1984) estimated that between 1868 and 1950, the Willamette River had an average of one snag pulled for every five feet of river run. By 1985, losses of riparian forest had reduced the average to one snag every 1000 feet. Presumably, the lower Columbia River would have had similar losses.

Prior to the widespread use of fuel oil in the 1890's, there was a huge demand on the Columbia River for firewood to fuel steamboats, locomotives and heat homes. Steamboats were the primary means of transportation along the river between

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1851 and the 1920's, and each burned between 10 and 30 cords of wood each day (Sedell and Froggatt 1984). We have not seen figures for the lower Columbia River, but steamboats on the Missouri River were reputed to have burned 300,000 cords of cottonwood during the same period, leaving riparian stands "denuded of usable trees by the turn of the century, a period of 30 to 40 years" (Evans 1989). Arsdol (1964) quoted that "wood cutting for steamboats was probably the first great occupation of [Skamania] county residents... stacks of wood covering large areas could be seen along the shores, waiting for transportation." Downriver, "there were many wood docks along the Columbia River because river boats used cord wood for fuel" (Stella Historical Society 1989). Early photographs at the Oregon Historical Society show cordwood stacked on docks and decks of steamships, but it is not evident what species were used. "Cordwood was about as plentiful as air. But nobody wrote about air -- why write about firewood, or even record statistics about it?" (Reynolds 1942).

Appelo (1975) noted that tideland spruce from Grays Bay was sold for cordwood in Astoria in 1883, but evidence suggests that most of the cordwood trade on the river involved conifers logged from hills above the floodplain. Arsdol (1964) quoted that "wood was cut on hills inland...and brought to the landing to be loaded on steamboats for fuel." The Stella Historical Society (1989) described a five-mile wood flume built between 1885 and 1910 for transporting cordwood. Above Bonneville Dam, "pioneers cut cordwood on the mountain slopes...and hauled it to the river banks where it was loaded onto scows...to be used as fuel" (Donaldson and Cramer 1971). Although lower in fuel value, coniferous wood would have been easier to cut and split than hardwood. Conifers comprised 80% of all the fuelwood burned in the North Pacific region, and cutting for this purpose peaked in Oregon in 1918, and in Washington in 1908 (Reynolds 1942).

Dairy farming on the Columbia River was the impetus for diking, clearing and draining thousands of acres of riparian swamps and forests. This activity peaked between 1900 and 1940. In contrast, dairy farming was not as common along the Willamette River. Clearing of riparian forests there did not accelerate until after 1940, when crop diversification, irrigation and flood control made the floodplain attractive for agriculture (Towle 1982).

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1. Cottonwood. Ubiquitous on the lower Columbia River, cottonwood occurs on both perennially wet soils and drier soils. Pure stands are common throughout the length of our study area, usually on slightly higher elevations such as old floodplain terraces or natural levees. Several stands had individuals with two or three trunks clustered together, most likely originating as stump sprouts formed after logging. Stands logged within the last ten years at Walker Island, Goble and on the Lewis River near Mud Lake, showed vigorous sprouting from cut stumps.

Trees we saw ranged from 10 to 48 inches in diameter, and most were between 18 and 36 inches. We saw only a few evidently old-growth cottonwoods of large girth on the lower Columbia River, at Tenasillahe Island, Hunting Islands, Burke Island and Reed Island. These trees are characterized by diameters of eight or nine feet, deeply furrowed bark and broken tops. In 1825, Douglas described cottonwoods ranging from six to 12 feet in diameter. It was "the chief tree on [the Columbia's] numerous islands...all the low banks of the river are covered with it" (Douglas 1914). Cottonwood snags pulled from the Willamette River between 1868 and 1875 measured 90 to 165 feet long and five to nine feet in diameter (Sedell and Luchessa 1981, Sedell and Frogatt 1984).

Although used to fuel steamboats east of the Cascades (Evans 1989), the primary use of riparian cottonwoods west of the Cascades seems to have been for lumber and paper pulp. Up to 7 million board feet per year were used for barrel staves, wooden ware, crates, trunks and drawer bottoms (Sargent 1896, Nash 1904, Jepson 1910, Peattie 1953). Demand "caused the destruction of most of the old trees" by 1896 (Sargent 1896).

In 1885, a mill in Camas used "straw and some cottonwood, with a small percentage of rag" to make paper (Parsons 1983). A pulp mill at Warrendale employed sandstone grinding wheels to abrade bolts of cottonwood to make paper pulp (Donaldson 1974).

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On both the Columbia and Willamette rivers, logging for paper pulp reached major proportions by the turn of the century (Sedell and Froggatt 1984). "But a few years ago this timber was called worthless, nowadays the steamboats tow great rafts to the paper mills of Oregon City every year" (Nash 1904).

Wood chips from upland logging gradually replaced native cottonwood as a source of paper pulp between 1900 and 1920, although use of hybrid cottonwoods for this purpose has increased markedly in the last decade.

2. Oregon ash. Ash is almost as ubiquitous as cottonwood along the lower Columbia River, and is most common on the overflow plains between Longview and Skamania. Although usually intermixed with cottonwood on terraces and natural levees, pure and often extensive stands are frequent on slightly lower elevations between riverside levees and interior overflow lakes and ponds. As noted previously, all the stands we saw had been degraded by grazing and invasion of reed canary grass.

Most trees we saw on the lower Columbia River, both mixed with cottonwood and in monotypic stands, ranged from 8 to 48 inches in diameter, and most were between 11 and 21 inches. Ash trees with similar diameters in the Willamette Valley ranged from 59 to 72 years old (Frenkel & Heinitz 1987). Many stands therefore appear to have originated between 1910 and 1930, and reproduction continues at the present time. In contrast, a few stands on Sauvie Island, the Ridgefield NWR and at Burlington Bottoms, have old-growth trees with diameters of five to six feet. Many of them occur at the edges of tidal creeks draining interior overflow lakes, and are absent farther back from the streams. They are always hollow, impossible to date with an increment borer, and are surely of presettlement age. Peattie (1953) reported trees over two hundred years old. Trees of this size seem to be most common on the overflow plains topography between Deer Island and Portland. Adjacent monotypic stands of ash were always the younger age class described previously.

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Although ash trees were used for wagon and carriage frames, tool handles, oars, barrel staves, furniture and interior finish of houses, its primary use was for firewood (Sargent 1894, Jepson 1910, Peattie 1953). Reynolds (1942) provided statistics on oak and alder, but not for Oregon ash. Presumably it was used primarily for domestic heating and not for commercial steamship contracts.

3. Pacific willow. Although all willows were classified as shrubs during this inventory, Pacific willow often attains tree height throughout most of its range. It is ubiquitous between Grays Bay and Bonneville Dam, but reaches its best development as a community in the overflow plains segment between Longview and Skamania. It occupies a topographic position between the Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica or the Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Urtica dioica communities and what was probably the Carex aperta community, now completely replaced by reed canary grass. The understory is now dominated by reed canary grass, and we found no stands with an intact understory.

Trees we saw ranged from 8 to 30 inches in diameter, and most were between 13 and 20 inches. Although absolute dates are unknown, photography housed at the Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Historical Society indicates that trees with diameters of 24 to 30 inches are 50 to 60 years old. This is about the maximum diameter seen along the river. Pacific willow is a favored food of beaver. The community seems to be maintained by vigorous resprouting following blowdown or heavy cropping by beaver. Although well suited to periodic inundation, prolonged flooding has killed stands at Rooster Rock State Park and at Smith and Bybee Lakes.

The Pacific willow community remains widespread around overflow lakes and ponds, where historically it probably reached its greatest development. Apparently there were no commercial uses of the species in our area (Peattie 1953). Clearing of

26

"willow flats" for pasture and mosquito control, then considered a temporary measure because of rapid resprouting (Stage et al. 1952), unwittingly created favored habitat for reed canary grass, which rapidly invaded after its introduction in the 1940's and 1950's.

4. Sitka spruce. Sitka spruce swamps typically have open canopies with dense growths of willow and red-osier dogwood in the gaps between trees. Individual trees have narrow, sparsely-branched crowns, and many are leaning. Instead of penetrating the mucky soils, roots spread over the surface and trees develop broad buttresses for support at the base of the trunk. Blowdown and subsequent sprouting from adventitious buds along the trunk seems to be the primary mechanism for perpetuating stands. Charred, standing snags in the interior of Blind Slough Swamp indicates that fire also affected the stands. Hemlock is absent from these stands. Western red cedar was probably frequent in these swamps at the time of Euroamerican settlement, but is now limited to scattered individuals 12 to 24 inches in diameter.

Although Sitka spruce grows rapidly on well-drained upland soils, it grows slowly on perennially wet soils in swamps, and diameters are correspondingly smaller. Trees we measured ranged from 12 to 48 inches in diameter, and most were between 16 and 33 inches. In the spring of 1992, a consulting forester estimated that the average age of trees in a spruce swamp in Warrenton, just south of the mouth of the river, was 85 years old. Subsequent investigations by John Christy and Robert Frenkel revealed that the age of trees with diameters between 12 and 24 inches ranged from 125 to 250 years. Ziak (1978), who owned spruce swamp adjacent to Blind Slough Preserve, wrote "I have cut another tide land or swamp spruce. At 12 feet above the ground it was 28 inches in diameter with 450 annual growth rings. I feel certain that the State of Oregon evaluation of a 1885 birth date is a long way off for the average age of these trees."

It is apparent from diameters and canopy structure

27

that all these stands are second growth. Other than a few pre-1935 cedar stumps visible at Oneida and Devils Elbow, no trace remains of logging. While most trees have similar diameters and canopy structure, every stand has a few trees of larger diameter, with missing or rotted tops, damaged specimens that loggers would have left standing. Although the shrub layer is difficult to penetrate, most trees grow on natural levees adjacent to sloughs and channels that would have made felling and subsequent rafting fairly easy. Logging began at streamsides, and progressively moved inland once easily-reached stands were depleted (Sedell and Luchessa 1981, Martin 1985). Appelo (1964, 1975) noted briefly the logging of tideland spruce by the Brix family on Grays Bay in the 1880's.

DISCUSSION General condition of floodplain communities

Upstream from Puget Island, the only remaining sizeable elements of a presettlement landscape are the landforms themselves. Floodplain terraces, old flood channels, shallow overflow lakes and ponds, gravel bars and sand dunes are physical reminders of fluvial processes that are now largely extinct. The vegetation on these sites has been irrevocably altered by grazing, logging, flood control and the advent of exotic species.

Downstream from Puget Island, the floodplain is wetter

and less altered by man. Although all of the forested wetlands were logged at least twice, they probably look much the same as they did to Lewis and Clark. The 6500 acres of undiked freshwater tidal marshes in this segment likewise probably look much as they did in 1805. Animals

Serious declines of some animal species along the lower Columbia River have resulted from the effects of settlement.

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The painted turtle and western pond turtle, the only turtles native to the Pacific Northwest, have declined because of predation on hatchlings by the introduced bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) and carp (Cyprinus carpio), and loss of quality habitat through diking, drainage, disruption of flood regimes, and removal of submerged snags and riparian forest. The yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), abundant in bottomlands in 1834 and fairly common in the 1920's (Gabrielson and Jewett 1970) is now virtually absent from the area. The loss of large tracts of cottonwood/willow riparian forests has contributed significantly to this decline (Marshall et al. 1992).

Protection of sites listed in Table 2 will benefit sensitive animal species. Most of these sites are between river mile 12 and 60, a major breeding area for bald eagles in Oregon and Washington. Eagle use is greatest between the mouth of the river and river mile 50, with a core of activity between Cathlamet Bay and Grays Bay, miles 20 to 28 (Garrett et al. 1988). The lower river is also one of the few areas in Oregon and Washington suitable as habitat for purple martin. Several breeding colonies of great blue herons occur on islands between river miles 30 and 70. These islands provide large deciduous and coniferous trees necessary for nesting, and are relatively isolated from human disturbance. A number of waterfowl species of concern winter in these areas, while mudflats exposed at low tide provide critical habitat for shorebirds. Plants and plant communities

In general, we found the wettest sites to be in the best condition overall, especially those in intertidal areas. On both old landforms and newly accreted sediments or dredge spoils, the wetland vegetation was composed almost entirely of native species. The zone just above the intertidal, up to and including areas dominated by cottonwood, is optimal for reed canary grass, which now occupies thousands of acres of bottomland to the exclusion of most native species in this layer of vegetation. It is extremely difficult to reconstruct the flora displaced by reed canary grass, because there are so few references to it. Certainly, two dominant species displaced were Carex aperta and Urtica dioica, the former to the point where it is nearly extinct as a community type.

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Existing habitat protection on the river

It is gratifying to note that most of the best habitat remaining on the lower Columbia River is already in public ownership. Most of this land is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in portions of six separate National Wildlife Refuges (Lewis and Clark, Julia Butler Hansen, Ridgefield, Franz Lake, Steigerwald Lake and Pierce), totaling 49,267 acres. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area owns 1,2000 acres at the mouth of the Sandy River. The Oregon Division of State Lands owns about 6,500 acres of high-quality tidal marsh near the mouth of the river, most of which is leased to the Fish and Wildlife Service and proposed for transfer to that agency (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service et al. 1992). The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife owns 12,000 acres on Sauvie Island. The Washington Department of Wildlife owns 1,500 acres around Vancouver Lake, and Whites Island Natural Area Preserve. State parks in both Oregon (Rooster Rock) and Washington (Beacon Rock, Reed Island and Fort Columbia) contain significant remnant habitats. The Clark County parks department owns 600 acres around Vancouver Lake, along Salmon Creek, and is negotiating to buy part of the floodplain on the East Fork of the Lewis River near LaCenter. The Port of Portland owns 2,100 acres around Smith and Bybee Lakes, and 1,760 acres on Government Island. Finally, The Nature Conservancy owns or has easements on all or parts of Blind Slough, Pierce Island, Puget Island, and a partial interest (with Multnomah County and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) in 600 acres at Burlington Bottoms.

While the amount of publicly-owned land is large, most of the public land ranked highly in this report currently has no administrative protection from deleterious management practices, such as grazing or simple neglect. Blackwater Island (Ridgefield NWR) and Tenasillahe Island (Julia Butler Hansen NWR) are the only dedicated federal Research Natural Areas. Fort Columbia Natural Forest Area and Whites Island Natural Area Preserve, both in Washington, are the only dedicated state natural areas. None of the lands owned by the State of Oregon are dedicated Natural Heritage Conservation Areas, although the Mirror Lake wetland in Rooster Rock State Park is a Registered State Natural Area.

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Future work

Although our inventory was by no means exhaustive, there are probably few other quality sites remaining to be identified on the lower Columbia River.

Other agencies have recommended various sites along the lower Columbia River for protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the Nature Conservancy and other entities all have interest in several sites in both Oregon and Washington. The Pacific Coast Joint Venture, part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, recently issued a draft implementation plan that identified many of the same areas we have listed for protection in Table 2.

It seems likely that portions of the river between Bonneville Dam and Astoria should eventually be managed in a way similar to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. There will be an inevitable change in public perception of the lower Columbia River in the coming decades. Increasing regional population, estimated to be 500,000 in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area alone within the next 20 years, and a declining base for fishing, agriculture and forest products, will shift public interest away from resource extraction and closer to resource protection.

Although not as dramatically scenic as the Gorge, the lower Columbia River has a majesty and mystery of its own that has yet to be discovered, or has been forgotten, by most people. Recent formation of Washington State University's Center for Columbia River History at Vancouver, and the Oregon Historical Society's Columbia River Heritage Program presage a resurrection of public interest in this forgotten stretch of America's second largest river. A number of recent books and pamphlets describe recreational and interpretive opportunities along the river. The Columbia River Heritage Canoe Trail was completed in 1992, and was featured in Sunset Magazine.

The task is now to safeguard the best of what remains, and ensure that quality sites in public ownership receive correct designation and management.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks are due to the Washington Public Interest

Research Group, whose funding to the Washington Field Office of The Nature Conservancy made this inventory possible. We are indebted to Lynn Cornelius of The Nature Conservancy for providing excellent field equipment, boating expertise, and enthusiasm. The Natural Heritage Programs of Oregon and Washington provided critical technical and travel support that were essential to the study. For logistical support and expertise freely given, we are indebted to the field staffs of the National Wildlife Refuges along the lower Columbia River, especially Jim Hidy, Jeff Holm, Ann Maroczhini and Bruce Wiseman. Jon Graves of the Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce was also helpful in compiling information on the lower river.

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_______ & J.L. Froggatt. 1984. Importance of streamside

forests to large rivers: the isolation of the Willamette River, Oregon, U.S.A., from its floodplain by snagging and streamside forest removal. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 22: 1828-1834.

Smith, P.R. & J.A. Shipman. 1988. Soil survey of Clatsop

County, Oregon. U.S. Dept. Agr., Soil Conserv. Serv. 272 pp. + maps.

Smythe, R.T. 1986. Soil survey of Columbia County, Oregon.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Soil Conserv. Serv. 1982 pp. + maps. Stage, H.H., C.M. Gjullin & W.W. Yates. 1952. Mosquitoes of

the Northwestern states. U.S. Dept. Agr. Handb. 46: 1-95.

Stella Historical Society. 1989. History of Stella, Oak

37

Point, Eufaula, Coal Creek and surrounding areas. Stella Historical Society, Longview, WA. 234 pp.

Tabor, J.E. 1976a. Inventory of riparian habitats and

associated wildlife along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Vol. 2A. Lower Columbia River. Report to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Pacific Division. Oregon Cooperative Res. Unit, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. 861 pp.

_______. 1976b. Inventory of riparian habitats and

associated wildlife along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Vol. 2B. Lower Columbia River. Report to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Pacific Division. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. 45 pp.

The Nature Conservancy. 1988. Natural heritage program

operations manual. 1982 edition, with revisions through 1988. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.

Thomas, D.W. 1980. Study of the intertidal vegetation of

the Columbia River estuary, July-September 1980. Columbia River Estuary Study Task Force, Astoria, OR. 22 pp.

_______. 1984. The vascular flora of the Columbia River

estuary. Wasmann J. Biology 42: 92-106. Towle, J.C. 1982. Changing geography of Willamette Valley

woodlands. Oregon Hist. Quart. 83: 67-87. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1948. Review report on

Columbia River and tributaries. Appendix L. Main Columbia River below Yakima River. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Pacific Division, Portland.

_______. 1988. Lower Columbia River flood control study.

River mile 0 to 145. Summary Report. Columbia River and tributaries review study CRT 69. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. General Services

Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Oregon Division of State Lands. 1992. Draft environmental impact statement, South Tongue Point land exchange and marine industrial park development project. Portland,

38

OR. Vanderschaaf, D. 1986. Proposal for establishment of

Tenasillahe Island Research Natural Area. Manuscript. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland, OR. 6 pp.

Washington Natural Heritage Program. 1990. Endangered,

threatened and sensitive vascular plants of Washington. Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources, Olympia.

_______. 1991. State of Washington Natural Heritage Plan.

Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources, Olympia. 141 pp. + appendices.

Wiberg, C. & S. Greene. 1981. Blackwater Island Research

Natural Area. Suppl. 11 to: J.F. Franklin, F.C. Hall, C.T. Dyrness & C. Maser. 1972. Federal research natural areas in Oregon and Washington: a guidebook for scientists and educators. USDA For. Serv., Pac. Northw. For. & Range Exp. Sta., Portland, OR.

Ziak, R. 1978[?]. Undated letter in GMF folder 6314. Oregon

Natural Heritage Program, Portland.

39

Table 1. Criteria used for ranking relative importance of sites inventoried, lower Columbia River, 1992.

______________________________________________________________ Rank Criteria ______________________________________________________________ High 1. Uplands and/or wetlands, or significant portions

of these, in outstanding to good condition, or easily restorable.

2. High-ranked elements present. 3. Habitat complexity high to moderate. 4. Site > 30 ac or site isolated from disturbance.

Medium 1. Uplands in moderate to poor condition, wetlands

in good condition or limited in extent; not easily restorable.

2. Low or high-ranked elements present, or elements lacking.

3. Habitat complexity moderate to low. 4. Site > 20 ac, or isolated from disturbance.

Low 1. Uplands in poor condition, wetlands limited in

extent, not worth restoring. 2. Low-ranked elements present, or elements

lacking. 3. Habitat complexity moderate to low. 4. Site < 20 ac, not isolated.

40

Table 2. High-ranked sites recommended for protection along lower Columbia River, 1992, by river mile. NAP = Natural Area Preserve (WA); NHCA = Natural Heritage Conservation Area (OR); RNA = Research Natural Area (FWS).

______________________________________________________________________________________ Mile Site Name Recommended Attributes

Action 2 Baker Bay, WA NAP Brackish marshes of between Fort Canby and

near Chinook are less saline and are more disturbed.

3 West Sand Island, RNA This is only example of coastal sand dunes OR stabilized with native vegetation on

the Columbia River. Very rare elsewhere because of invasive European beach grass has displaced native grasses.

21 Russian Island, RNA,NHCA Extensive freshwater tidal marshes and mud OR flats; regionally unique community

type; remote; unfilled cell in 1993 OR Heritage Plan.

22 Grays Bay, WA RNA, NAP? (Ownership?) Extensive freshwater tidal

marshes and mud flats; regionally unique community type; remote; partially filled cell in WA Heritage Plan.

24 Devils Elbow, WA NAP Best remaining Sitka spruce stand in

vicinity of Grays Bay, one of two

41

remaining significant stands on WA mainland. Regionally significant, many historic losses.

27 Knappa Slough, OR NHCA Small tidal marsh and mud flats surrounded

by protected areas; regionally unique community type; most pristine example seen on river; unfilled cell in OR Heritage Plan.

34 Price Island, WA Purchase (Upriver end of island) Second-largest

remnant Sitka spruce swamp and willow shrub swamp on WA side of river; upstream end still privately owned; regionally significant, many historic losses.

37 Hunting Islands, RNA & purchase Largest remnant Sitka spruce and willow

shrub swamp on WA side of river; much of upstream island still privately owned; north island recommended for RNA status in 1970's; regionally significant, many historic losses.

37 Elochoman River Purchase Remnant Sitka spruce and willow shrub swamp

between Elochoman Slough and Highway 4; one of two significant stands remaining on WA mainland; regionally significant, many historic losses.

38 Ryan Island, WA Purchase Excellent habitat mix on small undiked

partially filled cell in WA Heritage

42

Plan. 44 Jackson & Whites Purchase Excellent habitat mix on larger undiked

Islands, WA islands; adjacent to extensively-diked Dept. of Wildlife.

49 Wallace Island, OR Purchase Large undiked island with predominantly

habitat. 60 Coal Creek Slough Purchase Farthest upriver surviving occurrence of

undiked freshwater tideland marsh and willow shrub swamp; adjacent to extensively-diked Willow Grove and Longview bottomland.

101 Vancouver Lake NAP Last remaining known example of Carex

aperta marsh on lower Columbia River. Globally endangered community.

131 Sand Island, OR NHCA Last remaining unstabilized sand dunes on

lower Columbia River; active burial of cottonwood forest; regionally significant, many historic losses.

138 Franz Lake, WA RNA Largest remaining wapato, spikerush and

bulrush marsh on lower Columbia River. All other occurrences are smaller and more impacted by development and adventive species.

141 Beacon Rock NAP One of two known surviving occurrences of

43

Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa cobble community on lower Columbia River. Globally endangered community.

44

Table 3. Rare, threatened, endangered or sensitive animal species seen along lower Columbia River, 1992.

______________________________________________________________

Tracked in OR WA

______________________________________________________________

Aechmophorus occidentalis (Western grebe) X Ardea herodias (Great blue heron) X Butorides striatus (Green-backed heron) X Casmerodius albus (Great egret) X X Cathartes aura (Turkey vulture) X Chaetura vauxi (Vaux's swift) X Chrysemys picta (Painted turtle) X X Falco peregrinus (Peregrine falcon) X X Grus canadensis (Sandhill crane) X X Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald eagle) X X Odocoileus virginianus leucurus (Columbian X X

white-tailed deer) Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown pelican) X X Pandion haliaetus (Osprey) X Phoca vitulina (Harbor seal) X Progne subis (Purple martin) X X Sterna caspia (Caspian tern) X X Tringa melanoleuca (Greater yellowlegs) X

45

Table 4. Rare, threatened, endangered or sensitive plant species seen along lower Columbia River, 1992.

______________________________________________________________

Tracked in OR WA

______________________________________________________________

Carex interrupta X Epipactis gigantea X Lindernia dubia X Rorippa columbiae X X Salix sessilifolia X Scirpus cyperinus X Tillaea aquatica X

46

Table 5. Plant community elements inventoried along lower Columbia River, 1992. * = of regional or global concern. G = Global rank, S = State rank. River

segments: 1 = Brackish tidelands, 2 = Freshwater tidelands, 3 = Overflow plains, 4 = Columbia River Gorge. ______________________________________________________________________________________

Community element name River segment ______________________________________________________________________________________ Estuarine: low elevation, low-salinity intertidal marsh

Carex lyngbyei-Potentilla pacifica 1 Lyngby sedge-Pacific silverweed estuarine marsh Carex lyngbyei-Triglochin maritimum 1 Lyngby sedge-arrow grass estuarine marsh Scirpus americanus (estuarine association) 1 Threesquare bulrush estuarine marsh

Estuarine: high elevation, low-salinity intertidal marsh

Aster subspicatus-Potentilla pacifica 1 Douglas aster-Pacific silverweed salt meadow Deschampsia cespitosa-Potentilla pacifica 1 Tufted hairgrass-Pacific silverweed salt meadow Juncus balticus-Potentilla pacifica 1 Baltic rush-Pacific silverweed salt meadow

47

Palustrine aquatic bed

Elodea canadensis - Waterweed bed 2, 3 Lemna minor - Duckweed bed 2, 3 Myriophyllum hippuroides - Western water-milfoil bed 3

Palustrine emergent wetland: freshwater marsh

Athyrium filix-femina - Lady fern marsh 2 Bidens cernua - Nodding beggars tick marsh 2, 3

* Carex aperta - Columbia sedge marsh 3 Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) 2 Lyngby sedge freshwater marsh Carex obnupta - Slough sedge marsh 2, 3 Carex obnupta-Potentilla pacifica 1 Slough sedge-Pacific siverweed marsh Eleocharis palustris - Creeping spikerush marsh 2, 3 Equisetum fluviatile - Water horsetail marsh 2 Lilaeopsis occidentalis-Tillaea aquatica 2 Lilaeopsis-pigmy weed marsh Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides 3 Water purslane-waterpepper marsh Paspalum distichum - Knotgrass marsh 3 Polygonum amphibium - Water smartweed marsh 3 Sagittaria latifolia - Wapato marsh 2, 3 Scirpus acutus - Hardstem bulrush marsh 2 Scirpus americanus (freshwater association) 2 Threesquare bulrush freshwater marsh Scirpus validus - Softstem bulrush marsh 2 Sparganium emersum - Narrowleaf bur-reed marsh 2, 3 Typha angustifolia-Typha latifolia 2 Narrowleaf cattail-common cattail marsh

48

Palustrine scrub-shrub wetland: shrub swamp and riparian

Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis 2 Creek dogwood-Sitka willow shrub swamp Pyrus fusca-Salix hookeriana/Carex obnupta 2 Crabapple-Hooker willow/slough sedge shrub swamp Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra 3, 4 River willow-Pacific willow riparian Salix hookeriana-Spiraea douglasii 2 Hooker willow-Douglas spiraea shrub swamp

* Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica 3

Pacific willow/nettle riparian Salix piperi-Salix sitchensis 3 Piper willow-Sitka willow shrub swamp

Palustrine forested wetland: seasonally wet woodland and riparian * Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica 3

Oregon ash/nettle woodland Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/ 2, 3, 4

Urtica dioica Oregon ash-black cottonwood/creek dogwood/nettle riparian Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos albus/ 3, 4

Urtica dioica Oregon ash-black cottonwood/snowberry/nettle riparian

49

Palustrine forested wetland: perennially wet (swamps) * Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera - Sitka spruce swamp 2

Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Impatiens capensis 2 Black cottonwood/creek dogwood/jewelweed swamp

Beach and bar communities above Mean High Water * Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa 4

Columbia River mugwort-tufted hairgrass cobble Solidago occidentalis - Western goldenrod sandbar 3, 4

Sand dunes * Elymus mollis - Dune wildrye dune 1 * Festuca rubra - Red fescue dune 1

50

Appendix 1. Sites and elements inventoried along lower Columbia River, by river mile, 1992. All quad maps are USGS 7.5". Mapped = element occurrences previously mapped by Oregon and Washington Natural Heritage Programs. NSA = National Scenic Area, NWR = National Wildlife Refuge, PRNA = Proposed Research Natural Area, RNA = Research Natural Area, RSNA = Registered State Natural Area. List cites only those areas seen in this survey and is not intended to be complete for entire river reach.

______________________________________________________________________________________ Mile Rank Date Sites Surveyed and Element Occurrences ______________________________________________________________________________________ 2 H 7-22 Baker Bay, WA: brackish marshes between Fort Canby State Park

and Ilwaco. T9N, R11W, Sec. 4. Quad: Cape Disappointment. Animals

Sterna caspia (4 birds) Plant communities

Aster subspicatus-Potentilla pacifica Carex lyngbyei-Triglochin maritimum Scirpus americanus (estuarine association)

3 H 7-23 Baker Bay, OR: West Sand Island PRNA. T9N, R11W. Quad:Cape

Disappointment. Animals

Falco peregrinus (1 adult perched on piling) Pelicanus occidentalis (several ? birds on west end of

Plant communities Carex obnupta-Potentilla pacifica Deschampsia cespitosa-Potentilla pacifica Festuca rubra (Mapped: .003) Juncus balticus-Potentilla pacifica

51

Scirpus americanus (estuarine association) 5 M 7-22 Baker Bay, WA: brackish marsh W of Chinook River. T10N, R11W, Secs. 35, 36. Quad: Chinook.

Animals Sterna caspia (4 birds)

Plant communities Aster subspicatus-Potentilla pacifica Deschampsia cespitosa-Potentilla pacifica Juncus balticus-Potentilla pacifica Scirpus americanus (estuarine association)

5 M 7-16 Baker Bay, WA: brackish marsh E of Chinook River. T9N, R10W, S6; T10N, R10W, Sec. 31. Quad: Chinook.

Animals Sterna caspia (5 birds)

Plant communities High intertidal, low salinity marsh (Mapped: .020) Low intertidal, low salinity sandy marsh (Mapped: .005) Aster subspicatus-Potentilla pacifica Carex lyngbyei-Potentilla pacifica Carex lyngbyei-Triglochin maritimum Scirpus americanus (estuarine association)

5 L 7-17 Baker Bay, OR: East Sand Island. T9N, R10W; T9N, R11W. Quad:

Chinook. Animals

Pelicanus occidentalis (5 birds) Progne subis (Mapped: .412, breeding colony) Sterna caspia (Mapped: .012, breeding colony) (50 birds

Plant communities Deschampsia cespitosa-Potentilla pacifica

52

Elymus mollis Festuca rubra (Mapped: .004) Not seen. Scirpus americanus (estuarine association)

7 M 7-16 Chinook River, WA: shrub swamp NE of Chinook. T9N, R10W,

Secs. 16, 17. Quad: Chinook. Plant communities

Pyrus fusca-Salix hookeriana/Carex obnupta Salix hookeriana-Spiraea douglasii

16 M 8-13 Youngs River, OR: Grant Island. T7N, R9W, Sec. 4. Quad:

Olney. Plant communities

Scirpus acutus 16 L 8-13 Youngs River, OR: undiked marsh at upstream end of Haven

Island. T7N, R9W, Sec. 4. Quad: Astoria. Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) 16 M 8-13 Youngs River, OR: Fry Island. T8N, R9W, Sec. 4. Quad:

Astoria. Plant communities

Scirpus acutus 16 M 8-13 Youngs River, OR: island 1/4 mile downstream from Cooperage

Slough. T7N, R9W, Sec. 10. Quad: Olney. Plant communities

Scirpus acutus 16 M 8-13 Youngs River, OR: Cooperage Slough. T7N, R9W, Sec. 10. Quad: Olney.

53

Animals Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Mapped: .371, nest) Sterna caspia (3 birds)

Plant communities Athyrium filix-femina Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association)

16 M 8-13 Youngs River, OR: Wallooskee River swamp. T8N, R9W, Sec. 27.

Quad: Astoria. Plant communities

Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

18 M 8-14 John Day River, OR: Sitka spruce swamp across from public boat

ramp. T8N, R9W, Sec. 13. Quads: Astoria, Cathlamet Bay. Plant communities

Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

19 M 8-14 Lewis and Clark NWR, OR: marsh between Lois Island and Russian Island. T8N, R8W, Secs. 7, 8, 16, 17, 18. Quad: Cathlamet

Animals Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Mapped: .191; 1 immature)

Plant communities Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Scirpus acutus Typha angustifolia-Typha latifolia

21 H 8-14 Lewis and Clark NWR, OR: Russian Island. T8N, R8W, Secs. 2, 10, 11. Quad: Cathlamet Bay.

Plant communities Bidens cernua

54

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Eleocharis palustris Equisetum fluviatile Lilaeopsis occidentalis-Tillaea aquatica Typha angustifolia-Typha latifolia

22 H 7-24 Grays Bay, WA: marsh at mouth of Grays River. T9N, R8W,

Secs. 4, 5, 9; T10N, R8W, Sec. 32. Quad: Rosburg. Animals

Ardea herodias (9 birds feeding) Haliaeetus leucocephalus (3 adults, 2 immature) Sterna caspia (10 birds) Plants

Epipactis gigantea (Mapped: .026) Not seen. Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Lilaeopsis occidentalis-Tillaea aquatica Typha angustifolia-Typha latifolia

23 L 7-28 Grays Bay, WA: marsh below Pigeon Bluff. T9N, R8W, Sec. 9.

Quad: Rosburg. Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

23 M 10-2 Grays River, WA: Oneida spruce swamp. T10N, R8W, Secs. 32,

33. Quad: Rosburg. Animals

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Mapped: .813, .897, nest) Plant communities

Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis

55

Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera 24 H 10-2 Grays River, WA: Devils Elbow spruce swamp. T10N, R8W, Secs.

28, 33. Quad: Rosburg. Plant communities

Surge plain wetland (Mapped: .006) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

25 M 10-7 Cathlamet Bay, OR: marsh S of Calendar Slough. T8N, R8W, Sec.

12. Quad: Knappa. Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis

25 M 10-7 Lewis and Clark NWR, OR: Minaker Island. T8N, R8W, Secs. 11,

12. Quads: Cathlamet Bay, Knappa. Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Scirpus acutus

26 M 10-7 Lewis and Clark NWR, OR: Karlson Island. T8N, R7W, Sec. 7;

T8N, R8W, Sec. 12. Quad: Knappa. Animals

Ardea herodias (Mapped: no number) Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Mapped: .004, nest) Haliaeetus leucocephalus (1 adult) Odocoileus virginianus leucurus (Mapped: .001)

Plant communities Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

56

27 H 6-19 Knappa Slough, OR: island at confluence of Blind Slough and Knappa Slough. T8N, R7W, Secs. 5, 8. Quad: Knappa. Animals

Sterna caspia (2 birds) Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) 28 H 6-19 Blind Slough Swamp Preserve, OR. T8N, R7W, Secs. 4, 5, 8.

Quad: Knappa. Animals

Sterna caspia (3 birds) Plant communities

Tideland spruce swamp (Mapped: .005) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

34 H 7-29 Julia Butler Hansen NWR, WA: Price Island. T9N, R6W, Secs.

17, 20, 21. Quad: Skamokowa. Animals

Ardea herodias (Active rookery; Mapped: .140, breeding Pandion haliaetus (Mapped: .674, nest)

Plant communities Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

35 M 7-29 Julia Butler Hanson NWR, WA: wetland across dike road from

refuge maintenance barn. T9N, R6W, Sec. 28. Quad: Cathlamet. Animals

Cathartes aura (2 birds soaring) Progne subis (1 bird) Sterna caspia (15 birds)

Plants

57

Epipactis gigantea (Mapped: .033) Not seen. Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Sagittaria latifolia

35 L 7-29 Julia Butler Hanson NWR, WA: wetland across Steamboat Slough

from Price Is. T9N, R6W, Sec. 16. Quad: Skamokawa. Plants

Tillaea aquatica Plant communities

Eleocharis palustris Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

37 H 7-29 Elochoman River, WA: spruce swamp between Highway 4 and

Elochoman Slough. T9N, R6W, Sec. 35. Quad: Cathlamet. Plant communities

Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

37 H 9-25 Julia Butler Hansen NWR, OR: Tenasillahee Island RNA. T9N,

R6W, Sec. 33. Quad: Cathlamet. Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Eleocharis palustris Equisetum fluviatile Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Impatiens capensis Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

37 H 7-30 Julia Butler Hansen NWR, WA: Hunting Islands. T8N, R6W, Sec.

2, 3; T9N, R6W, Secs. 27, 28, 34, 35. Quad: Cathlamet.

58

Animals Ardea herodias (Mapped: .231, breeding colony)

Butroides striatus (1 bird) Cathartes aura (2 birds soaring)

Elanus caeruleus (Mapped: .005) Not seen. Haliaeetus leucocephalus (1 adult)

Odocoileus virginianus leucurus (Mapped: .005; 1 individual)

Olor columbianus (Mapped: .003) Not seen. Pandion haliaetus (1 adult) Phoca vitulina (1 individual in water near island) Progne subis (5 birds on snag)

Sterna caspia (5 birds) Plants

Epipactis gigantea Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Carex densa (Mapped: .007) Not seen. Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Equisetum fluviatile Limosella acaulis (Mapped: .008) Not seen. Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

38 H 6-18 Ryan Island, WA. T8N, R6W, Sec. 3. Quad: Cathlamet.

Animals Ardea herodias (Mapped: .015, breeding colony)

Cathartes aura (2 birds soaring) Progne subis (1 bird) Sterna caspia (2 birds)

Plant communities

59

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Impatiens capensis Typha angustifolia-Typha latifolia

40 L 6-18 Little Island, WA. T8N, R6W, Secs. 10, 11. Quad: Cathlamet.

Plants Epipactis giantea Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Eleocharis palustris Sparganium emersum

40 H 7-31, 9-25 Puget Island, WA: Robert W. Little Preserve. T8N, R6W, Secs.

9, 16. Quad: Cathlamet. Animals

Cathartes aura (1 bird roosting) Plant communities

Carex obnupta Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

41 L 9-25 Coffee Pot Island, WA. T8N, R6W, Secs. 22, 23. Quad:

Cathlamet. Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/Urtica dioica Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

43 L 9-25 Wauna spruce swamp, OR. T8N, R6W, Secs. 26, 27, 35, 36.

60

Quad: Cathlamet. Plant communities

Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera

44 H 9-1 Jackson Island, WA. T8N, R5W, Sec. 19. Quad: Nassa Point.

Plants Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Bidens cernua Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Eleocharis palustris Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

44 H 9-1 Whites Island, WA. T8N, R5W, Secs. 29, 30. Quad: Nassa

Point. Animals

Ardea herodias (Mapped: .016, breeding colony) Cathartes aura (6 birds soaring)

Odocoileus virginianus leucurus (Mapped: .012) Not seen. Plants

Tillaea aquatica Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Eleocharis palustris Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/ Urtica dioica Lilaeopsis occidentalis-Tillaea aquatica Typha angustifolia-Typha latifolia

49 H 8-26, 9-23 Wallace Island, OR. T8N, 5W, Secs. 25, 34, 35, 36. Quad:

Nassa Point, Oak Point.

61

Animals Odocoileus virginianus leucurus (Mapped: .005) Not seen.

Plant communities Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis Eleocharis palustris Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Impatiens capensis

49 M 8-25 Clatskanie River, OR: Anunde Island. T8N, R4W, Sec. 31; T8N,

R5W, Sec. 36. Quad: Oak Point. Plant communities

Bidens cernua Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica 52 L 8-26 Poysky Slough, OR. T8N, R4W, Secs. 20, 30. Quad: Oak Point.

Animals Sterna caspia (2 birds) Tringa melanoleuca (1 bird)

Plant communities Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Eleocharis palustris

55 M 9-23 Crims Island, OR. T8N, R4W, Secs. 13, 14, 15. Quad: Oak

Point. Plant communities

Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Urtica dioica

Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

62

55 M 9-23 Gull Island, OR. T8N, R4W, Secs. 14, 15. Quad: Oak Point.

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

60 H 10-19 Coal Creek Slough, WA. T8N, R3W, Secs. 15, 16, 22. Quad:

Coal Creek. Animals

Ardea herodias (5 birds) Plant communities

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Urtica dioica

60 M 8-20 Fisher Island, WA. T8N, R3W, Sec. 21. Quad: Coal Creek.

Animals Ardea herodias (Mapped: .028, breeding colony) (7 birds Cathartes aura (4 birds soaring, 1 bird roosting) Pandion haliaetus (1 adult) Sterna caspia (20 birds resting on mud flat)

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Equisetum fluviatile Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/ Urtica dioica Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

61 L 7-1 Walker Island, OR. T8N, R3W, Secs. 27, 28. Quad: Coal Creek.

Animals Sterna caspia (1 bird)

63

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

63 M 9-16 Lord Island, OR. T7N, R3W, Secs. 1, 2; T8N, R3W, Secs. 34,

35. Quad: Coal Creek, Delena. Animals

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (1 adult, 2 immature) Tringa melanolueca (1 bird)

Plant communities Bidens cernua Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Impatiens capensis Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

63 M 7-1 Rinearson Slough, OR. T7N, R3W, Sec. 2. Quad: Delena.

Animals Haliaeetus leucocephalus (2 adults roosting)

Plants Scirpus cyperinus

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Elodea canadensis Sagittaria latifolia

70 L 9-18 Cottonwood Island, WA. T7N, R2W, Secs. 24, 25. Quads:

Kalama, Rainier. Animals

Ardea herodias (Mapped: .266, breeding colony) Cathartes aura (2 birds soaring)

64

Pandion haliaetus (Mapped: .504, nest) Plants

Carex interrupta Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Scirpus americanus (freshwater association)

71 L 9-18 Carrolls Channel, WA: marsh on mainland, just upstream from

Cottonwood Island. T7N, R2W, Sec. 35. Quad: Kalama. Plants

Carex interrupta Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

75 L 6-22 Sandy Island, OR. T6N, R1W, Secs. 7, 18, 19; T6N, R2W, Secs. 12, 13. Quads: Deer Island, Kalama. Plants

Scirpus cyperinus Plant communities

Eleocharis palustris Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Sagittaria latifolia Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

76 L 6-17 Goble, OR: E of Elder Rocks. T6N, R2W, Sec. 13. Quad: Deer

Island, Kalama. Plant communities

Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis

65

Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica 79 L 8-31 Deer Island, OR. T6N, R1W, Sec. 33. Quad: Deer Island.

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/Urtica dioica 80 L 8-31 Martin Island, WA. T5N, R1W, Sec. 3. Quad: Deer Island.

Animals Ardea herodias (2 birds feeding) Cathartes aura (4 birds soaring)

Plants Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/Urtica dioica 81 L 8-31 Burke Island, WA. T5N, R1W, Secs. 3, 10. Quad: Deer Island.

Plants Carex interrupta

Plant communities Bidens cernua Eleocharis palustris Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/ Urtica dioica Sagittaria latifolia

81 L 8-31 Burke Slough, WA: dredged channel between Burke Slough and

Burke Creek. T5N, R1W, Sec. 2. Quad: Deer Island. Plants

Carex interrupta Plant communities

66

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Urtica dioica

Sagittaria latifolia 87 M 8-19 Lewis River, WA: Pekins Ferry S to Mud Lake. T4N, R1W, Sec.

1; T5N, R1W, Sec. 36; T5N, R1E, Sec. 31. Quad: Ridgefield. Animals

Ardea herodias (1 bird feeding) Cathartes aura (1 bird soaring, 1 roosting) Haliaeetus leucocephalus (1 adult) Pandion haliaetus (1 adult)

Plants Carex interrupta Polemonium carneum (Mapped: .008) Not seen. Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/Urtica dioica 87 M 8-19 Lewis River, WA: Mud Lake. T4N, R1E, Sec. 6. Quad:

Ridgefield. Animals

Casmerodius albus (1 bird) Plants

Lindernia dubia 87 M 10-21 East Fork Lewis River, WA: bottomland SE of La Center. T4N,

R1E, Secs. 3, 4. Quad: Ridgefield. Animals

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Mapped: .869, nest) Plant communities

Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica

67

Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

88 H 8-7 Ridgefield NWR, WA: Blackwater Island RNA. T4N, R1W, Secs.

11, 12, 13. Quad: St. Helens. Animals

Progne subis (2 birds) Plants

Carex interrupta Howellia aquatilis (Mapped: 002) Lindernia dubia Salix sessilifolia Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica Lemna minor Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides Paspalum distichum Sagittaria latifolia Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

88 L 8-4 Scappoose Bay, OR. T4N, R1W, Secs. 9, 16. Quad: St. Helens.

Plants Scirpus cyperinus

Plant communities Bidens cernua Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

88 L 10-15 Sauvie Island, OR: ponds, sloughs and woodland between Warrior

Rock and Henrici Lake. T4N, R1W, Secs. 10, 15. Quad: St. Helens.

68

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides Sagittaria latifolia

88 M 8-4 Sauvie Island, OR: Millionaires Lake. T4N, R1W, Sec. 16.

Quad: St. Helens. Animals

Chrysemys picta (4 turtles on log) Plant communities

Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/Urtica dioica Sagittaria latifolia

88 L 9-30 Lake River, WA: between confluence with Bachelor Island Slough

and Columbia River. T4N, R1W, Secs. 11, 13, 14. Quad: St. Helens. Plants

Carex interrupta 89 M 10-15 Sauvie Island, OR: Henrici Lake. T4N, R1W, Sec. 22. Quad:

St. Helens. Plant communities

Sagittaria latifolia 89 M 9-30 Bachelor Island, WA: Canvasback Lake. T4N, R1W, Secs. 14, 15.

Quad: St. Helens. Animals

Ardea herodias (11 birds feeding) Grus canadensis (approx. 40 birds)

Plant communities

69

Fraxinus latifolia-Urtica dioica Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Polygonum amphibium Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

93 L 9-22 Ridgefield NWR, WA: Campbell Lake. T3N, R1W, Sec. 1; T4N,

R1W, Sec. 36. Quads: Ridgefield, St. Helens. Animals

Ardea herodias (22 birds feeding) Casmerodius albus (21 birds) Grus canadensis (? many heard- 50 counted) Plants

Lindernia dubia Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

93 L 9-30 Ridgefield NWR, WA: Campbell Lake outlet. T3N, R1W, Sec. 1.

Quad: St. Helens. Animals

Casmerodius albus (2 birds) Plant communities

Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica 96 L 9-22 Lake River, WA: between Green Lake and Vancouver Lake. T3N,

R1W, Sec. 13, 24. Quad: Vancouver. Plants

Carex interrupta 96 M 8-28 Salmon Creek, WA: upstream from NW 36th Ave., Vancouver. T3N,

70

R1E, Secs. 20, 21, 28, 29. Quad: Vancouver. Animals

Clemmys marmorata (Mapped: .029) Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Mapped: .381)

Plants Carex interrupta Lindernia dubia Paspalum distichum

Plant communities Sagittaria latifolia Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

96 L 8-21 Sauvie Island, OR: Willow Bar Islands. T3N, R1W, Sec. 23.

Quad: Sauvie Island. Plant communities

Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides 98 L 8-21 Sauvie Island, OR: S end of Sturgeon Lake, near Coon Point.

T3N, R1W, Secs. 33, 34. Quad: Sauvie Island. Plant communities

Paspalum distichum 98 M 9-22 Vancouver Lake, WA: N end. T3N, R1E, Sec. 32. Quad:

Vancouver. Animals

Ardea herodias (2 birds feeding) Casmerodius albus (1 bird)

Plants Carex interrupta Lindernia dubia Salix sessilifolia Tillaea aquatica

71

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

100 L 8-21 Sauvie Island, OR: Virginia Lake. T2N, R1W, Secs. 17, 18.

Quad: Sauvie Island. Plant communities

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos albus/Urtica dioica

Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides 101 M 8-28 Vancouver Lake, WA: S end. T2N, R1E, Secs. 7, 8, 17. Quad:

Vancouver. Animals

Ardea herodias (Mapped: .267, breeding colony) Casmerodius albus (Mapped: .010)

Plants Carex interrupta Lindernia dubia

Plant communities Carex aperta Eleocharis palustris Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica Solidago occidentalis

102 L 9-17 Sauvie Island, OR: Bybee-Howell Marsh. T2N, R1W, Sec. 21.

Quad: Sauvie Island. Plants

Scirpus cyperinus Plant communities

72

Salix piperi-Salix sitchensis 102 M 9-17 Multnomah Channel, OR: Burlington Bottoms. T2N, R1W, Secs.

20, 21. Quad: Sauvie Island. Animals

Chrysemys picta (Mapped: .033) Clemmys marmorata (Mapped: .103) Not seen. Odocoileus virginianus leucurus (Mapped: .023)

Plant communities Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides Myriophyllum hippuroides

112 L 8-27 Lemon Island, OR. T1N, R2E, Secs. 4, 9. Quad: Mount Tabor.

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/Urtica dioica 112 M 8-27 Sand Island, OR. T1N, R2E, Sec. 4. Quad: Mount Tabor.

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica 114 M 8-27 Government Island, OR. T1N, R2E, Sec. 14. Quad: Mount Tabor.

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos

albus/Urtica dioica Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

117 L 8-27 McGuire Island, OR. T1N, R3E, Secs. 19, 20. Quad: Camas.

Plant communities

73

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos albus/Urtica dioica

Solidago occidentalis 122 M 6-24 Columbia River Gorge NSA, OR: Sandy River delta. T1N, R4E,

Secs. 18, 19. Quad: Washougal. Plants

Rorippa columbiae (Mapped: .025, .032) Scirpus cyperinus (Mapped: .002)

Plant communities Myriophyllum hippuroides Paspalum distichum Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica Scirpus validus

124 M 7-8 Gary Island RSNA, OR. T1N, R4E, Sec. 20. Quad: Washougal.

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Solidago occidentalis

125 M 7-8 Flag Island RSNA, OR. T1N, R4E, Secs. 28, 29, 30. Quad:

Washougal. Plant communities

Eleocharis palustris Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica Solidago occidentalis

126 M 7-15 Reed Island State Park, WA. T1N, R4E, Secs. 21, 22, 23.

74

Quad: Washougal. Animals

Ardea herodias (Mapped: .139) Clemmys marmorata (Mapped: .003) Pandion haliaetus (Mapped: .095, nests)

Plants Carex interrupta Lindernia dubia Salix sessilifolia

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Paspalum distichum Sagittaria latifolia Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

129 M 7-10 Rooster Rock State Park RSNA, OR: Mirror Lake wetland. T1N,

R5E, Secs. 29, 30. Quad: Bridal Veil. Plant communities

Elodea canadensis Sagittaria latifolia Scirpus cyperinus (Mapped: .001)

131 H 7-9 Rooster Rock State Park, OR: Sand Island. T1N, R5E, Secs. 20,

21. Quad: Bridal Veil. Plant communities

Eleocharis palustris Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica

75

135 M 7-7 Skamania Island, WA. T1N, R5E, Sec. 12; T1N, R6E, Secs. 6, 7. Quads: Bridal Veil, Multnomah Falls. Animals

Pandion haliaetus (1 adult) Plant communities

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Urtica dioica

138 H 6-23 Franz Lake NWR, WA: Franz Lake. T1N, R6E, Secs. 3, 4, 5.

Quad: Multnomah Falls. Animals

Ardea herodias (2 birds) Cathartes aura (1 bird soaring)

Progne subis (1 bird) Plants

Lindernia dubia Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Eleocharis palustris Paspalum distichum Sagittaria latifolia Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica Scirpus validus

141 H 7-10 Beacon Rock State Park, WA. T2N, R6E, Sec. 35. Quad:

Multnomah Falls. Animals

Cathartes aura (2 birds soaring) Chaetura vauxi (1 bird)

Pandion haliaetus (1 adult) Progne subis (Mapped: .024, breeding colony)

76

Plants Artemisia lindleyana (Mapped: .014) Lindernia dubia Rorippa columbiae (Mapped: .064) Tillaea aquatica

Plant communities Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa

Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra 142 H 7-2 Pierce Island Preserve, WA. T2N, R6E, Secs. 25, 36. Quad:

Multnomah Falls. Animals

Ardea herodias (Mapped: .119, breeding cology) Cathartes aura (1 adult soaring) Haliaeetus leucocephalus (1 adult flying) Pandion haliaetus (Mapped: .034, nest) Pandion haliaetus (1 adult flying) Sterna caspia (3 birds)

Plants Rorippa columbiae (Mapped: .005, .006)

Plant communities Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Urtica dioica

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos albus/Urtica dioica

Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra 143 M 7-2 Ives Island, WA. T2N, R7E, Sec. 30. Quads: Bonneville Dam,

Tanner Butte. Animals

Ardea herodias (5 birds feeding)

77

Plant communities Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus

stolonifera/Urtica dioica Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra

78

Appendix 2. Ranking and size of plant community element occurrences inventoried along lower Columbia River, 1992. Refer to Appendix 1 for full locality information. RM = river mile. Element ranks: A = excellent, B = good, C = marginal, D = poor. List cites only those areas seen in this survey and is not intended to be complete for entire river reach.

______________________________________________________________________________________ Element Size Locality Comments Rank (ac) ______________________________________________________________________________________ Estuarine: low elevation, low-salinity intertidal marsh Carex lyngbyei-Potentilla pacifica - OR: G4S4

A 20-25 RM 5: WA, E of Chinook River

Carex lyngbyei-Triglochin maritimum - OR: G4S4 A 30-40 RM 2: WA, Fort Canby A 430-40 RM 5: WA, E of Chinook River

Scirpus americanus (estuarine association) - OR: G5S4

A 20-25 RM 2: WA, Fort Canby A 10 RM 3: OR, West Sand Island A 20-30 RM 5: WA, W of Chinook River Largest occurrence seen A 15 RM 5: WA, E of Chinook River A 10-15 RM 5: WA, East Sand Island

Estuarine: high elevation, low-salinity intertidal marsh Aster subspicatus-Potentilla pacifica - OR: G4S4

79

C 10 RM 2: WA, Fort Canby Very weedy B 10 RM 5: WA, W of Chinook River Somewhat weedy B 10 RM 5: WA, E of Chinook River Somewhat weedy

Deschampsia cespitosa-Potentilla pacifica - OR: G4S4

A 10-20 RM 3: OR, West Sand Island B 10-20 RM 5: WA, W of Chinook River Somewhat weedy C 5 RM 5: WA, East Sand Island Small EO

Juncus balticus-Potentilla pacifica - OR: G4S4

B 5-10 RM 3: WA, West Sand Island B 5-10 RM 5: WA, W of Chinook River Somewhat weedy

Palustrine aquatic bed Elodea canadensis - OR: G5S5

A 5-10 RM 63: OR, Rinearson Slough A 5-10 RM 129: OR, Rooster Rock RSNA

Lemna minor - OR: G5S5

A 5-10 RM 88: WA, Blackwater Island RNA Myriophyllum hippuroides - OR: G5S2

A 10-20 RM 102: OR, Burlington Bottoms A 5-10 RM 122: OR, Sandy River delta

Palustrine emergent wetland: freshwater marsh Athyrium filix-femina - OR: G3S3

B 5-10 RM 16: OR, Cooperage Slough Recently grazed, weedy

80

Bidens cernua - OR: G4S4 A 100 RM 21: OR, Russian Island A 5-10 RM 44: WA, Jackson Island A 5-10 RM 49: OR, Anunde Island B 5-10 RM 63: OR, Lord Island Recenly grazed, weedy B 10-20 RM 81: WA, Burke Island Currently grazed, weedy B 5-10 RM 88: OR, Scappoose Bay Industrial waste

Carex aperta - OR: G1S1; WA: should be G1S1

B 2 RM 101: WA, S end Vancouver Lake Pure stand, diked on one side

D 5-10 RM 102: OR, Burlington Bottoms Recently grazed, weedy Carex lyngbyei (freshwater association) - OR: G4S3

C 5 RM 16: OR, Haven Island B 10-20 RM 16: OR, Cooperage Slough A 400-500 RM 19: OR, Lois Island/Russian Island B 500-550 RM 21: OR, Russian Island A 600 RM 22: WA, mouth of Grays River C 20-50 RM 23: WA, Pigeon Bluff Weedy A 100-150 RM 25: OR, Calendar Slough A 500-600 RM 25: OR, Minaker Island B 200-300 RM 26: OR, Karlson Island Somewhat weedy A 30-40 RM 27: OR, Knappa Slough Small but outstanding C 20 RM 37: OR, Tenasillahe Island RNA Weedy C 50 RM 37: WA, Hunting Islands Weedy, possible dredge

spoils B 40-60 RM 38: WA, Ryan Island C 5-10 RM 40: WA, Little Island C 10-20 RM 41: WA, Coffee Pot Island B 20-30 RM 44: WA, Jackson Island A 75-100 RM 44: WA, Whites Island

81

C 5-10 RM 52: OR, Poysky Slough B 5-10 RM 55: OR, Crims Island

Carex obnupta - OR: G4S4

B 5-10 RM 40: WA, Puget Island Carex obnupta-Potentilla pacifica - OR: G4S4

C 2 RM 3: OR, West Sand Island Eleocharis palustris - OR: G5S5

A 100 RM 21: OR, Russian Island C 2 RM 35: WA, Steamboat Slough C 5 RM 27: OR, Tenasillahe Island RNA C 5 RM 40: WA, Little Island B 5 RM 44: WA, Jackson Island A 40 RM 44: WA, Whites Island B 10 RM 49: OR, Wallace Island B 10 RM 52: OR, Poysky Slough A 10 RM 60: WA, Fisher Island A 30-40 RM 61: OR, Walker Island B 5-10 RM 63: OR, Rinearson Slough B 25-30 RM 70: WA, Cottonwood Island B 10-15 RM 71: WA, Carrolls Channel A 10-15 RM 75: OR, Sandy Island A 10-20 RM 81: WA, Burke Island A 10-15 RM 88: WA, Blackwater Island RNA B 10 RM 93: WA, Campbell Lake C 50-75 RM 98: WA, Vancouver Lake, WA/N end C 40 RM 101: WA, Vancouver Lake, WA/S end B 10 RM 125: OR, Flag Island RSNA A 10-15 RM 125: OR, Chatham Island RSNA A 10 RM 131: OR, Rooster Rock/Sand Island

82

A 10-20 RM 138: WA, Franz Lake NWR Equisetum fluviatile - G5S3

A 20-30 RM 21: OR, Russian Island B 5-10 RM 37: OR, Tenasillahe Island RNA C 5-10 RM 37: WA, Hunting Islands B 5-10 RM 60: WA, Fisher Island

Lilaeopsis occidentalis-Tillaea aquatica - OR: G3?S3

A 100-150 RM 21: OR, Russian Island A 100 RM 22: WA, mouth of Grays River B 40-50 RM 44: WA, Whites Island Dredge spoils

Ludwigia palustris-Polygonum hydropiperoides - OR: G4S3

B 10-15 RM 87: WA, La Center A 10-15 RM 88: WA, Blackwater Island RNA C 10 RM 88: OR, Warrior-Henrici Currently grazed C 5 RM 96: OR, Willow Bar Islands Dredge spoils D 5 RM 100: OR, Virginia Lake Weedy A 10-20 RM 102: OR, Burlington Bottoms

Paspalum distichum - OR: G4S3

B 10-20 RM 88: WA, Blackwater Island NWR B 5-10 RM 96: WA, Salmon Creek B 20-30 RM 98: OR, Sturgeon Lake/S end Recently grazed B 5 RM 122: OR, Sandy River delta Recently grazed B 15 RM 138: WA, Franz Lake NWR

Polygonum amphibium - OR: G5S3

A 30-40 RM 89: WA, Canvasback Lake

83

Sagittaria latifolia - OR: G4S2 A 20-30 RM 35: WA, Hansen NWR barn A 8-10 RM 63: OR, Rinearson Slough A 10-20 RM 75: OR, Sandy Island A 20 RM 81: WA, Burke Island C 5-10 RM 81: WA, Burke Slough Cut and fill, dike and roads A 10-20 RM 88: WA, Blackwater Island RNA D 5 RM 88: OR, Warrior-Henrici Currently grazed A 10-20 RM 88: OR, Millionaires Lake Recently grazed A 10-15 RM 89: OR, Henrici Lake Currently grazed B 10 RM 96: WA, Salmon Creek C 5-10 RM 126: WA, Reed Island State Park Currently grazed A 30-40 RM 129: OR, Rooster Rock RSNA A 50-60 RM 138: WA, Franz Lake NWR

Scirpus acutus - OR: G5S4

A 40 RM 16: OR, Grant Island B 20 RM 16: OR, Fry Island B 5-10 RM 16: OR, 1/4 mi below Cooperage Slough A 50-75 RM 19: OR, Lois Island/Russian Island A 30-40 RM 21: OR, Russian Island A 50-75 RM 22: WA, mouth of Grays River A 10-20 RM 25: OR, Minaker Island

Scirpus americanus (freshwater association) - OR: G4S3

A 10 RM 23: WA, Pigeon Bluff B 5 RM 26: OR, Karlson Island C 2 RM 35: WA, Steamboat Slough B 5-10 RM 37: OR, Tenasillahe Island NWR B 5-10 RM 37: WA, Hunting Islands A 10-20 RM 41: WA, Coffee Pot Island B 5 RM 44: WA, Jackson Island

84

B 10 RM 55: OR, Crims Island A 30-40 RM 55: OR, Gull Island A 10-20 RM 60: WA, Fisher Island B 10 RM 61: OR, Walker Island B 5-10 RM 63: OR, Lord Island C 10-20 RM 70: WA, Cottonwood Island Industrial waste

Scirpus validus - OR: G5S5

B 10 RM 122: OR, Sandy River delta A 20 RM 138: WA, Franz Lake NWR

Sparganium emersum - OR: G5S4

C 2 RM 40: WA, Little Island

Typha angustifolia-Typha latifolia - OR: G5S3 A 10-20 RM 19: OR, Lois Island/Russian Island A 20-40 RM 21: OR, Russian Island A 20-40 RM 22: WA, mouth of Grays River A 20-30 RM 38: WA, Ryan Island A 10-20 RM 44: WA, Whites Island

Palustrine scrub-shrub wetland: shrub swamp and riparian Cornus stolonifera-Salix sitchensis - OR: G4S3

B 10-20 RM 16: OR, Wallooskee River B 10-20 RM 18: OR, John Day River A 20-30 RM 23: WA, Oneida B 10-20 RM 24: WA, Devils Elbow A 70-80 RM 25: OR, Calendar Slough A 80-90 RM 26: OR, Karlson Island A 350-400 RM 28: OR, Blind Slough Swamp

85

A 20-30 RM 34: WA, Price Island C 5-10 RM 35: WA, Hansen NWR barn A 40 RM 37: OR, Tenasillahe Island RNA A 40 RM 37: WA, Elochoman River A 150-160 RM 37: WA, Hunting Islands D 80-90 RM 43: OR, Wauna C 10-20 RM 40: WA, Little Island B 10-15 RM 40: WA, Puget Island A 175-200 RM 49: OR, Wallace Island B 70-80 RM 55: OR, Crims Island Recently grazed C 5-10 RM 76: OR, Goble Damaged by cottonwood

logging Pyrus fusca-Salix hookeriana/Carex obnupta - OR: G4S3

D 2-3 RM 7: WA, Chinook swamp Small, adjacent to highway Salix fluviatilis-Salix lasiandra - OR: G3S3

B 20-30 RM 101: WA, Vancouver Lake/S end A 40-50 RM 125: OR, Flag Island RSNA A 40-50 RM 131: OR, Rooster Rock/Sand Island B 20-30 RM 138: WA, Franz Lake NWR B 10 RM 141: WA, Beacon Rock State Park B 5 RM 142: WA, Pierce Island B 5-10 RM 143: WA, Ives Island

Salix hookeriana-Spiraea douglasii - OR: G4S3

B 40-50 RM 7: WA, Chinook swamp Salix lasiandra/Urtica dioica - OR: G3S2

C 70-80 RM 55: OR, Crims Island C 20-30 RM 55: OR, Gull Island C 70-80 RM 63: OR, Lord Island

86

C 70-80 RM 71: WA, Carrolls Channel C 70-80 RM 75: OR, Sandy Island D 5-10 RM 76: OR, Goble Damaged in cottonwood

logging C 40-50 RM 87: WA, La Center C 1000-1200 RM 88: OR, Scappoose Bay C 100 RM 88: WA, Blackwater Island RNA C 80-90 RM 89: WA, Canvasback Lake D 20-30 RM 93: WA, Campbell Lake Currently grazed C 20 RM 96: WA, Salmon Creek C 70-80 RM 98: WA, Vancouver Lake/N end C 150-175 RM 101: WA, Vancouver Lake/S end C 10-20 RM 114: OR, Government Island C 10-20 RM 122: OR, Sandy River delta C 10-20 RM 125: OR, Flag Island RSNA C 40-50 RM 126: WA, Reed Island State Park C 10-20 RM 131: WA, Rooster Rock/Sand Island C 40-60 RM 138: WA, Franz Lake NWR

Salix piperi-Salix sitchensis - OR: G2S2

C 8-10 RM 102: OR, Bybee-Howell Marsh Palustrine forested wetland: seasonally wet woodland and riparian Fraxinus latifolia/Urtica dioica - OR: G3S2

C 10-20 RM 87: WA, La Center B 25 RM 88: WA, Blackwater Island RNA C 160-200 RM 88: OR, Warrior-Henrici Currently grazed C 20-30 RM 88: OR, Millionaires Lake Recently grazed B 80 RM 89: WA, Canvasback Lake C 80-100 RM 93: WA, Campbell Lake outlet Currently grazed

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Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Urtica dioica - OR: G4S4

A 80-100 RM 44: WA, Whites Island A 375-400 RM 49: OR, Wallace Island B 20-30 RM 49: OR, Anunde Island B 100-120 RM 55: OR, Crims Island Currently grazed A 40 RM 55: OR, Gull Island B 80-100 RM 60: WA, Coal Creek Slough Diked on one side A 80-100 RM 60: WA, Fisher Island C 100-120 RM 63: OR, Lord Island Recently grazed C 80-100 RM 75: OR, Sandy Island C 40 RM 81: WA, Burke Slough Cut and fill, dike and roads A 80-90 RM 89: WA, Canvasback Lake C 40-50 RM 93: WA, Campbell Lake outlet Currently grazed D 20-30 RM 112: OR, Lemon Island Weedy A 15-20 RM 112: OR, Sand Island C 40-50 RM 124: OR, Gary Island RSNA D 15-20 RM 125: OR, Flag Island RSNA C 150-160 RM 126: WA, Reed Island State Park Recently grazed A 70-80 RM 131: OR, Rooster Rock/Sand Island B 70-80 RM 135: WA, Skamania Island A 30-40 RM 142: WA, Pierce Island C 20-30 RM 143: WA, Ives Island

Fraxinus latifolia-Populus trichocarpa/Symphoricarpos albus/Urtica dioica - OR: G4S4

C 20 RM 41: WA, Coffee Pot Island Weedy, dredge spoils D 40 RM 79: OR, Deer Island Currently grazed C 70-80 RM 80: WA, Martin Island Currently grazed C 70-80 RM 81: WA, Burke Island Currently grazed C 40 RM 87: WA, Lewis River/Mud Lake Recently logged A 20 RM 88: OR, Millionaires Lake Recently grazed C 15-20 RM 100: OR, Virginia Lake

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C 10-15 RM 112: OR, Lemon Island Fragmented B 20 RM 114: OR, Government Island Currently grazed, but dense D 30-40 RM 117: OR, McGuire Island Weedy A 10 RM 142: WA, Pierce Island

Palustrine forested wetland: perennially wet (swamps) Picea sitchensis/Cornus stolonifera - OR: G3S2

B 20 RM 16: OR, Wallooskee River swamp B 20 RM 18: OR, John Day River A 40-50 RM 23: WA, Oneida A 40-50 RM 24: WA, Devils Elbow A 500-550 RM 26: OR, Karlson Island A 350-400 RM 28: OR, Blind Slough Swamp B 90-100 RM 34: WA, Price Island Dredge spoils on part A 40-50 RM 37: WA, Elochoman River A 350-400 RM 37: WA, Hunting Islands D 400-450 RM 43: OR, Wauna Roads, railroad, dredge

spoils Populus trichocarpa/Cornus stolonifera/Impatiens capensis - OR: G3S3?

A 10-20 RM 37: OR, Tenasillahe NWR A 5-10 RM 38: WA, Ryan Island A 10-20 RM 49: OR, Wallace Island B 10 RM 63: OR, Lord Island

Beach and bar communities above Mean High Water Artemisia lindleyana-Deschampsia cespitosa - OR: unknown; WA: should be G1S1

B 5 RM 141: WA, Beacon Rock State Park

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B 5 RM 142: WA, Pierce Island Solidago occidentalis - OR: G4S4

C 10-20 RM 101: WA, Vancouver Lake/S end Weedy B 10-15 RM 117: OR, McGuire Island C 5-8 RM 124: OR, Gary Island RSNA Weedy B 10-20 RM 125: OR, Flag Island RSNA

Sand dunes Elymus mollis - OR: G1S1

C 5 RM 5: OR, East Sand Island Weedy Festuca rubra - OR: G1S1

A 30-40 RM 3: OR, West Sand Island PRNA