Site Description
This section provides a description of the physical features, hydrology, climate, and winds found along the lower Columbia River and includes an overview of the oil spill risks in the region.
The Columbia River originates in British Columbia, Canada and runs through Washington, serving as a border with Oregon before eventually entering the Pacific Ocean, traveling a total of 1,243 miles. Although the Columbia River originates in Canada, the NOAA river mile system used in these geographic response plans (GRPs) begins at the confluence of the river with the Pacific.
The Lower Columbia River Geographic Response Plan (LCR-GRP) starts at river mile one and ends at the base of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Bonneville Lock and Dam located at river mile 145.4. The Middle Columbia River region begins on the upriver side of the Bonneville Dam. The borders of those four GRPs match the specific pool or reservoir created by the four USACE dams (Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day, and McNary).
The LCR-GRP includes the lower Willamette River, which is a 26-mile reach from the Willamette Falls at West Linn/Oregon City, Oregon to the confluence with the Columbia at Kelley Point Park in the City of Portland.
In Washington, portions of Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 24 (Willapa), WRIA-25 (Grays-Elochoman), WRIA-26 (Cowlitz), WRIA-27 (Lewis), and WRIA-28 (Salmon-Washougal) are present. In Oregon, portions of Watermaster Districts 1, 18, and 20 are located within the planning area.
Developed Areas
The planning area includes the communities of North Bonneville (WA), Stevenson (WA), Corbett (OR), Washougal (WA), Troutdale (OR), Camas (WA), Fairview (OR), Gresham (OR), Vancouver (WA), Portland (OR), St. Helens (OR), Ridgefield (WA), Columbia City (OR), Kalama (WA), Prescott (OR), Rainier (OR), Longview (WA), Kelso (WA), Cathlamet (WA), Astoria (OR), Chinook (WA), Warrenton (OR), and Ilwaco (WA). The planning area passes through five Washington counties (Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, and Pacific) and four Oregon counties (Multnomah, Columbia, Clatsop, and Clackamas).
Tribes of the Lower Columbia River
The planning area is within the usual and accustomed territories of a number of American Indian Tribes. Federally recognized Tribes with access to the resources of the river may include the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
Tribes can fill many roles during an oil spill response including full participation in Unified Command, providing resource specialists in the Environmental Unit, monitoring on-scene operations, and more. Information regarding tribal participation in a response is available on the Northwest Area Committee/Region 10 Regional Response Team website. Contact information for the tribes in this planning area can be found in the Resources at Risk section and on the Spill Response Contact Sheet of this GRP.
Physical Features
Geology & Landscape
Volcanic activity built up strata of mud, ash, and lava throughout the Columbia basin over a span of some 10 million years. The Columbia River Basalt Group flows covered the area, forming a strong foundation of basaltic rock. Subsequent geologic activity to the west raised the Cascade Mountains. The deposition of a type of sediment known as the Troutdale Formation by the river lasted two million years. Much more recently, the Ice Age floods battered the mountain range whenever Glacial Lake Missoula was breached during a 3,000-year period, scouring much of what is now Washington (WA DNR).
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Cultural Features
An approximately 30 square miles of land just downriver from Vancouver is an archeological district known as Shoto Villages and Vancouver Lakes. Also, Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery visited many places along the river in the early nineteenth century. Heritage markers appear occasionally in both states.
Shoreline Description
Terrain varies from sandy beaches to intermittent rocky areas of rip-rap and intertidal zones with steep cliffs that have limited or no access. The varied stretches of sandy beach generally see significant human use. Portions of the riverbank are steep, with completely inaccessible rocky cliffs. Other areas are rocky intertidal to cobble type beaches. There are many mid-stream rocks and sand islands that provide bird rookeries and marine mammal haulouts. Interspersed along both the Columbia and Willamette rivers are many small freshwater drainages. Many species of wildlife in a variety of stages of development use these waterways throughout the year. As a result, there are many major wildlife refuges and state parks located between the Portland/Vancouver area and the Pacific Ocean.
The outflow of the Columbia River forms a vast estuary. This estuary is a meeting point between saltwater and fresh water and the surrounding land, and the resulting fragile environment is characterized by highly variable physical, chemical, and biological conditions. These variable conditions allow organisms from saltwater, fresh water, and land to proliferate with great abundance and diversity. Components of this estuary include tidelands, salt marshes, sand spits, uplands, and river channels, all of which interact to create a highly productive habitat (ERMA).
Dams & Irrigation
The eastern border of the planning area is formed by the Bonneville Dam. The two powerhouses provide hydropower to Oregon and Washington through the Bonneville Power Administration. The navigation lock is vital for vessel traffic transiting to the Tri-Cities and beyond. The variable water discharge through the turbines and spillway affect the flow of the river (USACE).
No irrigation occurs in this planning area.
Superfund Sites & Other Historic Pollution Sites
There are three locations within the planning area that are currently on the National Priorities List (EPA):
- Bradford Island at Bonneville Dam
- Reynolds Metals Company in Troutdale, OR
- Portland Harbor in Portland, OR
Socio-Economic Features
Large-Scale Restoration Sites
The Steigerwald Reconnection Project at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge reconnected the floodplain to the river in 2022 (LCEP).
Fishing & Sustenance
In the planning area, certain communities may rely on natural resources for sustenance and subsistence, including finfish. The fishing season occurs year-round. There are five commercial fishing areas near the mouth of the river. There are three aquaculture operations based in Clatsop County (OR). There are many fish hatcheries on both sides of the river. See the plan’s Economic Resources At Risk section for more detail. Minimizing impacts to these specific resources could reduce food security impacts during a large spill.
Recreation & Tourism
The planning area sees many tourists who come for the natural beauty on land and water. Here are some features that draw visitors from all over the world. See the plan’s Economic Resources At Risk section for more detail:
- Nearly 40 marinas.
- Five national wildlife refuges.
- Seven state parks.
- The Wahkiakum County Ferry runs between Puget Island (WA) and Westport (OR) year-round.
Economic Drivers
Maritime commerce is a major driver of the economy. There are several ports within the planning area (Portland, Vancouver, and Longview being some of the largest in the region). The export of American grain (and other products) to other parts of the world provides many jobs to residents (Port of Portland).
Hydrology
The Columbia River is the fourth largest river in North America and the largest in the Pacific Northwest. It originates in Columbia Lake, high in the Canadian Rockies, where it first travels northwest, and then turns south entering the United States in Washington, where it eventually turns west and forms the border between Washington and Oregon before flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The river travels a total of 1,243 miles, providing drainage for approximately 258,000 square miles of the Western United States and British Columbia, with numerous tributaries, both rivers and creeks, adding to the flow along the way.
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The flow of water in this section of the Columbia River is controlled by outflows from the Bonneville dam. The Bonneville Pool has an average elevation of 76.5 feet above mean sea level during normal dam operations. Tributary streams entering the Bonneville Pool include the Klickitat, Little White Salmon, White Salmon, and Wind Rivers in Washington, and Hood River in Oregon (USACE).
In contrast to the Middle Columbia River GRP just to the east of the Bonneville Dam, the Lower Columbia River’s planning area hydrology is more dynamic due to the confluence with the ocean and the lack of manmade controls. The water’s transition from the pool through the spillways of the Bonneville Dam mark the farthest upstream reach of this GRP. In terms of hydrologic flow, the dam is the only control point on the lower section on the Columbia River (not including its tributaries). From the dam, river flow travels down unimpeded to sea level, where it meets the ocean. This flow is made up of drainage for approximately 258,000 sq. miles of the Western United States and British Columbia (USGS). The confluence of the saltwater and freshwater ecosystems in the Columbia River delta mouth creates a dynamic transitory zone that is dictated by tides and current. The average yearly discharge at the mouth of the river is around 244 billion cubic meters.
This plan also includes 26 miles of the Willamette River, from Willamette Falls to the Columbia River. The junction between the Willamette and Columbia Rivers is located at the northern most point of Portland (Columbia River mile 101) and is at an elevation of 10 feet above sea level. Willamette Falls is at an elevation of 100 feet above sea level, with a 40-foot drop. Of the Columbia’s combined average annual flow, the Willamette contributes 15% to the total.
Portions of (WRIA-24, Willapa), WRIA-25 (Grays-Elochoman), WRIA-26 (Cowlitz), WRIA-27 (Lewis), and WRIA-28 (Salmon-Washougal) fall within the planning area. Most of the precipitation within all five WRIAs arrives during the winter months, when water demands are the lowest. During the summer, the snowpack is gone, there is little rain, and naturally low stream flows are dependent on groundwater inflow. This means that groundwater and surface water are least available when water demands are the highest. Only a fraction of the annual precipitation in each area becomes groundwater that’s available for human and economic uses. In Oregon, it includes portions of #1, 18, and 20 Watermaster Districts. Additionally, a EPA Sole Source Aquifer, the Troutdale Aquifer System Area, is located within Clark County, Washington (EPA).
In addition to the miles of sandy beaches and its vast estuary, the Columbia River has its flow augmented by contributions from the following creeks and rivers (a diagram showing the relationship between some of these tributaries and the river is found in the Response Strategies and Priorities section):
- Hamilton Creek – Approximately 142 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Sandy River – Approximately 121 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Washougal River – Approximately 121 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Willamette River – Approximately 102 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Lake River – Approximately 88 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Lewis River – Approximately 85 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Kalama River – Approximately 73 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Cowlitz River – Approximately 68 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Mill/Germany/Abernathy Creeks – Approximately 55 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Clatskanie River – Approximately 50 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Elochoman River – Approximately 41 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Skamokawa Creek – Approximately 33 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Big Creek – Approximately 28 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Crooked Creek – Approximately 23 miles east of the Columbia River mouth in Grays Bay
- Grays River – Approximately 22.5 miles east of the Columbia River mouth in Grays Bay
- Deep River – Approximately 21 miles east of the Columbia River mouth in Grays Bay
- John Day River – Approximately 18 miles east of the Columbia River mouth
- Youngs River – Approximately 13.5 miles east of the Columbia River mouth in Youngs Bay
- Lewis and Clark River – Approximately 13 miles east of the Columbia River mouth In Youngs Bay
- Chinook River – Approximately 5 miles east of the Columbia River mouth in Baker Bay
- Wallacut River – Approximately 4 miles east of the Columbia River mouth in Baker Bay
Significant tributaries to the Willamette River include:
- Clackamas River – Approximately 25 miles south of the Willamette River mouth
- Oswego Creek – Approximately 21 miles south of the Willamette River mouth
- Johnson Creek – Approximately 19 miles south of the Willamette River mouth
- Kellogg Creek – Approximately 19 miles south of the Willamette River mouth
This additional water volume, along with the natural water disturbances created by the variances of the riverbank and current flow, create numerous rips, back eddies, and still waters. These cause spilled oil to concentrate at various points along the rivers. Oil will also tend to strand at the high water line on a falling tide and on the outside of bends.
Climate and Winds
The entire coast is characterized by a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. Air temperatures are in the mid-40s in the winter and the low 60s in the summer. The temperature increases inland, with Portland having an average high in the upper 70s during the summer and upper 40s in the winter. Water temperatures are fairly constant, normally in the low 50s. Annual rainfall varies between Astoria and Portland. Astoria averages 67” per year and Portland averages 36” per year (NOAA).
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The northern coast can be affected by strong winds, at times in excess of 100 miles per hour. These winds typically come from the north to northwest in the summer and the southeast to east in the winter. During the summer, the predominant wind direction is from the northwest with speeds ranging from 10 to 15 knots. However maximum peak wind gusts range from 30 to 40 knots. The mean wave heights are about 4.9 feet with maximum heights of 14.7 feet. In the winter, the winds are primarily from the east to southeast at 10 to 15 knots with maximum peak wind gusts ranging from about 55 to 65 knots. Average wave heights are 4.9 feet with maximum wave heights of 32.8 feet. In particular, the coastal mountain range deflects winds so that they tend to flow parallel to the coastline. In areas with lower mountains, this effect may not be as prominent. Winds in Astoria and Portland have an annual mean velocity of 8 knots with directions varying throughout the year.
Tides and Currents
The tidal currents within the Lower Columbia River are strong and are felt as far upriver as Vancouver. For example, the station in Longview (WA) has a mean range of 3.67 feet (NOAA). Currents tend to increase in narrow channels such as Multnomah Channel, west of Sauvie Island. Water levels and velocities are a function of several factors: seasonal runoff, tidal effects, and the volume of water released by upstream dams.
Risk Assessment
The Lower Columbia River is plentiful in natural, cultural, and economic resources, all at risk of injury from oil spills. Potential oil spill risks include but are not limited to: oils that may sink (non-floating oils), facilities, rail transportation, oil pipelines, large commercial vessel traffic, road systems, aircraft, recreational boating, and other oil spill risks. This section briefly discusses these risks and how they could impact the GRP planning area.
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Non-Floating Oils: Both refined petroleum products and crude oils are transported in bulk within this planning area. Crude oil contains a mix of hydrocarbons with a wide range of properties, while a refined product is a single type of oil, such as diesel or gasoline. Depending on the oil and the characteristics of the water the oil is spilled into, some of the oil transported in this planning area may not float.
Different oils will behave differently when spilled to water. Some heavy oils will sink immediately, some oil suspends in the water column, and lighter oils may remain on the surface and evaporate within hours. Over time, oil that initially floats can weather and mix with sediment, causing it to submerge or sink. Non-floating oils pose a specific risk to the environment because they can harm underwater or bottom-dwelling species that would otherwise be unaffected during an oil spill that remained floating on the water’s surface.
Traditional response strategies are designed for floating oil. However, there are steps responders can take to plan for and respond to a non-floating oil spill. The Non-Floating Oil Response Options and Considerations section shows where non-floating oil may accumulate if spilled within this planning area, along with information on specific tactics that may be effective during a response. More response options recommended for finding and recovering oil below the water’s surface can be found in the Non-Floating Oil Spill Response Tool (NWACP Section 9412).
Facilities: The planning area contains three Class 1 regulated bulk petroleum facilities at the Port of Vancouver, all of which transfer large volumes of oil over water. Most of these large facilities are also storage terminals, housing millions of gallons of refined or crude oil in clusters of storage tanks. Several smaller facilities that transfer oil over water in lesser volumes, known as Class 3 and Class 4, also operate throughout the Columbia River. These include fueling the fishing fleets based out of Astoria, as well as pleasure craft at marinas. These regulated petroleum facilities, and the products they handle, can be viewed on the Ecology Spills Map.
Rail Transportation: Rail companies transport oil via both unit trains and manifest trains in this area. Unit trains include up to four locomotives, buffer cars, and 118 loaded tank cars transporting oil in 714-barrel (29,998 gallon) capacity USDOT-approved tank cars. Manifest trains include up to four locomotives, a mix of non-oil merchandise cars, and one or more 714-barrel (29,998 gallon) capacity USDOT-approved tank cars carrying refined oil products, such as diesel, lubrication oil, or gasoline. These trains may include emptied tank cars, each with residual quantities of up to 1,800 gallons of crude oil or petroleum products. Every train locomotive typically holds a few hundred gallons of engine lubrication oil, plus saddle tanks that each have an approximate capacity of 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Manifest trains may also transport biological oils and non-petroleum chemicals.
Unit trains carrying crude currently operate on specific routes. Unit trains carrying crude from the Bakken Formation in North Dakota enter Washington State near Spokane, continue along the Columbia River to Vancouver, and then head north along I-5. Similar to the highways systems that run along much of the Columbia River, rail transportation runs closely parallel to the river banks throughout the Lower and Middle Columbia River areas. BNSF Railroad’s Fallbridge Subdivision runs along the Columbia River on the Washington side, while Union Pacific’s Portland Subdivision runs along the opposite bank in Oregon.
Oil Pipelines: There is one refined petroleum pipeline in the planning area. BP Olympic crosses the Columbia River near Vancouver and Portland, terminating at PDX. If this pipeline was to leak or rupture, the impact to natural, cultural, and economic resources would be significant.
Large Commercial Vessel Traffic: Bulk vessels transport crude and refined oil throughout the Lower Columbia River, each carrying millions of gallons as cargo plus hundreds of thousands of gallons of engine fuel for ocean crossings. Bulk oil is also moved by tug and barge, including crude and other potentially non-floating oils. Additionally, one refinery (Pacific Bio-Refinery) and ten terminals (three in Washington and seven in Oregon) have marine docks for tank vessels to unload and load product.
In 2023, 838 cargo and passenger vessels transited the Lower Columbia River (VEAT). Large commercial vessels typically carry significant amounts of heavy fuel oils and other refined products.
Road Systems: Vehicle traffic on roadways pose an oil spill risk in areas where they run adjacent to the shoreline, or cross over lakes, rivers, creeks, and ditches that drain into the Lower Columbia River. Highway 14 in Washington and Interstate-84 in Oregon run parallel to the river in the upper part of the planning area. Four bridges cross the river at Astoria/Chinook, Longview/Rainier, & Vancouver/Portland (I-5 & I-205). A vehicle spill onto one of these bridges or roadways can cause fuel or oil to flow from hardened surfaces into the Columbia River or its tributaries. Commercial trucks can contain hundreds to thousands of gallons of fuel and oil, especially fully loaded tank trucks, and may carry almost any kind of cargo, including hazardous waste or other materials that might injure sensitive resources if spilled. Smaller vehicle accidents pose a risk as well, a risk commensurate to the volume of fuel and oil they carry.
Aircraft: Several airports are located within the planning area, the largest being Portland International Airport. There are airports with less traffic elsewhere in the planning area (e.g. Southwest Washington Regional in Kelso). Landing strips at these airports are used for recreational, commercial, and transit purposes. With airports in the area, the potential exists for aircraft failures during inbound or outbound flights that could result in a spill with a release of jet fuel to the Columbia River or its tributaries.
Recreational Boating: Accidents involving recreational watercraft on the river have the potential to result in spills of anywhere from a few gallons of gasoline, up to hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel. Examples of such accidents include collisions, groundings, fires, sinking, or exploding. These types of accidents, as well as problems with bilge discharges and refueling operations, the most typical types of spills to occur, have a negative impact on sensitive river resources.
Other Spill Risks: Other potential oil spill risks in the area include dam turbine mechanical failures, road run-off during rain events, on-shore or near shore construction activities where heavy equipment is being operated, and the migration of spilled oil through soil on lands adjacent to the river or along creek or stream banks.
Resources at Risk
This section provides a summary of natural, cultural, and economic resources at risk in the planning area, including those resources at risk from oils with the potential to sink or submerge. It provides general information on habitat, fish, and wildlife resources, and locations in the area where sensitive natural resource concerns have been identified. It offers a summary of cultural resources that include fundamental procedures for the discovery of cultural artifacts and human skeletal remains. General information about flight restrictions, wildlife deterrence, and oiled wildlife can be found near the end of this section. You may download a list of economic resources in the area from this webpage.
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This section is purposely broad in scope and should not be considered comprehensive. Some of the sensitive resources described in this section cannot be addressed in Response Strategies and Priorities because it is not possible to conduct effective response activities in these locations. Additional information from private organizations or federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies should also be sought during spills. This material is presented with enough detail to give general information about the area during the first phase of a spill response. During an actual incident, more information about resources at risk will be available from the Environmental Unit in the Planning Section.
Note: specific resource concerns related to areas that already have designated protection strategies may be found in the “Resources At Risk” column of the matrix describing the individual strategies.
The information provided in this section can be used in:
- Assisting the Environmental Unit (EU) and Operations in developing ad hoc response strategies.
- Providing resource-at-risk “context” to responders, clean-up workers, and others during the initial phase of a spill response in the GRP area.
- Briefing responders and incident command staff that may be unfamiliar with sensitive resource concerns in the GRP area.
- Providing background information for personnel involved in media presentations and public outreach during a spill incident.
- Providing information on benthic and water column species or cultural resources present to assist in planning for oils with the potential to sink or submerge.
Natural Resources at Risk – Summary
This area contains a wide variety of aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats, and nearshore marine (outer coast from the mouth of the river to Seaview, WA) areas. These habitats support many of Washington’s salmonid species as well as a complex diversity of other wildlife. In addition to those species directly at risk to oil spills, others (due to their life histories and/or behaviors) are unlikely to become directly oiled during a spill incident but may be disturbed by other operations such as cleanup, reconnaissance, or fire suppression activities. Some of the bird species are resident throughout the year, but many others seasonally migrate through the area. Several of the species found in this area have been classified as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act or by Washington State Fish and Wildlife commission.
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Classification types are listed below:
- Federal Endangered (FE)
- Federal Threatened (FT)
- Federal Candidate (FC)
- State Endangered (SE)
- State Threatened (ST)
- State Sensitive (SS)
Federal and State listed species (subspecies shown in parenthesis) that may occur within this area include:
Birds:
- Columbia sharp-tailed grouse [ST]
- American white pelican [SS(WA)]
- Brown pelican [SE(OR)]
- Common loon [SS(WA)]
- Marbled murrelet [FT/SE(WA)/ST(OR)]
- Northern spotted owl [FT/SE(WA)/ST(OR)]
- Oregon vesper sparrow [SE(WA)]
- Sandhill crane [SE(WA)]
- Short-tailed albatross [FE/SE(OR)]
- Streaked horned lark [FT/SE(WA)]
- Tufted puffin [SE(WA)]
- Western snowy plover [FT/SE(WA)/ST(OR)]
- Yellow billed cuckoo [FT/SE(WA)]
Mammals:
- Gray wolf [SE]
- Columbian white-tailed deer [FT/ST(WA)]
- Blue whale [FE/SE(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Fin whale [FE/SE(WA/SE(OR)]
- Fisher [FC/SE(WA)]
- Gray whale (western North Pacific) [FE/SS(WA)]
- Gray whale (eastern north Pacific) [SS(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Gray wolf [FE/SE (WA)]
- Humpback whale (Central American population) [FE/SE(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Humpback whale (Mexican population) [FT/SE(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Killer whale (southern resident) [FE/SE(WA)]
- Right whale (north Pacific) [FE/SE(WA)]
- Sei whale [FE/SE(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Sperm whale [FE/SE(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Wolverine [FC/ST(OR)]
Fish:
- Bull trout [FT]
- Chinook salmon (lower Columbia) [FT]
- Fall (Snake River) [FT/ST(OR)]
- Spring/Summer (Snake River) [FT/ST(OR)]
- Spring (upper Columbia) [FE]
- Upper Willamette River [FT])
- Chum salmon (Columbia River) [FT]
- Coho salmon (lower Columbia) [FT/SE(OR)]
- Green sturgeon [FT]
- Pacific eulachon [FT]
- Sockeye salmon (Snake River) [FE]
- Steelhead trout (lower Columbia) [FT]
- Middle Columbia [FT]
- Snake River [FT]
- Upper Columbia [FT]
- Upper Willamette River [FT]
Amphibians/Reptiles:
- Green sea turtle [FT/ST(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Larch mountain salamander [SS (WA)]
- Leatherback sea turtle [FE/SE(WA)/SE(OR)]
- Loggerhead sea turtle [FE/SE(WA)/ST(OR)]
- Olive Ridley sea turtle [FT/ST(OR)]
- Oregon spotted frog [FT/SE(WA)]
- Western pond turtle [SE(WA)]
Insects:
- Fender’s blue butterfly [FE]
Plants:
- Bradshaw’s desert-parsley [FE]
- Golden paintbrush [FT]
- Kincaid’s lupine [FT]
- Nelson’s checker-mallow [FT]
- Water howellia [FT]
- Willamette daisy [FE]
Critical habitats are the specific areas, occupied by an endangered or threatened species at the time it was listed, that contain the physical or biological features that are essential to the conservation of that species – and that may need special management or protection. Critical habitat may also include areas that were not occupied by the species at the time of listing but are essential to its conservation.
The following species have federally designated critical habitats within this area:
- Bull trout
- Chinook salmon (lower Columbia River)
- Fall (Snake River)
- Spring (upper Columbia River)
- Chum salmon (Columbia River)
- Coho salmon (lower Columbia River)
- Green sturgeon
- Humpback whale (Central American population)
- Humpback whale (Mexican population)
- Leatherback sea turtle
- Marbled murrelet
- Northern spotted owl
- Pacific eulachon
- Sockeye salmon -Spring/Summer (Snake River)
- Steelhead (lower Columbia River)
- (middle Columbia River)
- (upper Columbia River)
- (Snake River)
- Streaked horned lark
General Resource Concerns
Shallow estuarine bays serve several important ecological functions. Mud and sand flats in these bays support large numbers of benthic and epibenthic organisms and are important foraging areas for salmonids, crabs, fishes, and shorebirds.
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Eelgrass beds provide important nursery and foraging areas for crabs, salmonids, other fishes and waterfowl.
Intertidal shoals from Puget Island downstream to the river mouth provide critical haulout habitat for harbor seals.
Wetlands in this region range from brackish water marshes near the mouth of the river, to forested freshwater marshes at the upper end of the estuary near Welch Island. All wetland types support a diverse array of bird, insect and fish and wildlife species.
Sloughs and backwater channels provide feeding and resting areas for waterfowl and herons and are rearing areas for juvenile fish.
Islands provide important nesting habitat for a variety of bird species, as well as habitat for a variety of mammals, including Columbian white-tailed deer [FT/ST].
Sand beaches, along outer shore, provide habitat for razor clams, as well as for the large numbers of shorebirds that stop over to feed and rest on the outer coast and its estuaries during the spring and fall migration.
Stream mouths are concentration areas for anadromous fish and are feeding areas for a variety of marine birds.
Several rivers and smaller tributary streams flow into this estuary. These act as important salmon migration routes and spawning areas, as well as providing rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. The associated riparian scrub and woodlands play a crucial role in supporting a large diversity and abundance of songbird species as breeding, migrating, and overwintering habitat.
Human-made structures such as pilings, rock jetties, or log rafts may be used as roosting or nesting areas for a variety of marine birds and raptors or as haulout areas for sea lions and harbor seals.
Numerous habitat restoration sites exist along the lower Columbia River and its tributaries. Often, significant resources have been invested in these locations to improve stream conditions specific to salmon recovery.
Shallow subsurface habitats in this region extend from marine beaches outside of the river mouth, through the estuary, and upriver to the Bonneville Dam (~RM 145). These habitats are present along the mainstem of the Columbia River and all its associated tributaries.
Nutrient rich nearshore marine waters sustain a highly productive food web that includes fish, seabirds and marine mammals and serves as habitat for wide-ranging fish such as salmon, forage fish (herring, smelt, and sandlance), sharks, and a large number and wide variety of birds that utilize this habitat as foraging areas. These waters also support both resident and migrating marine mammals. Regional and localized oceanographic conditions can greatly influence the distribution and abundance of all these resources.
The marine subtidal habitats in this area consist primarily of soft sediments, such as clay, mud, sand, and gravel. These areas are broad, flat, and relatively level. The animals that tend to live on the surface of these habitats may include sea cucumber, sea stars, crustaceans (such as crab and shrimp), and bottom fish such as skate, perch, cod, and the flat fishes. These soft sediment habitats also support shellfish and other invertebrates including bivalves, worms, brittle stars, and shrimplike crustaceans. The burrowing or foraging activities of these animals may penetrate up to one meter below the subsurface bottom.
The shallow brackish/freshwater habitats in this area also primarily consist of soft sediments, such as clay, mud, sand, and gravel. Aquatic vegetation may be present in these areas. Animals associated with these areas tend to be: cold or warm water fishes; birds (dabbling ducks); semi-aquatic mammals (muskrat, beaver, etc.); shellfish (freshwater clams and mussels); amphibians and reptiles (frogs, newts, salamanders, turtles, etc.); insects (caddis flies, mayflies, dragonflies, and stoneflies). Many other animals also utilize these areas for foraging.
Fish and shellfish:
Juvenile and/or adult salmonids are present in the river below Bonneville Dam throughout the year. Millions of juvenile salmonids use estuarine waters as a rearing and foraging area as they prepare for migration to the ocean. Returning adult salmonids support significant tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries.
Anadromous fish (other than salmon) in this region include American shad, green sturgeon, and Pacific eulachon smelt.
Forage fish seasonally abundant in the estuary include northern anchovy, Pacific herring, longfin and surf smelt, and Pacific sandlance.
The Columbia River estuary serves as a major nursery area for larval and juvenile marine fish, including English sole, sand dab, butter sole, sand sole, and starry flounder.
The Columbia River estuary serves as a major nursery area for juvenile Dungeness crab. Crabs that rear in the estuary contribute significantly to the adult population along the outer coast.
Other shellfish occurring in the estuarine portion of the river include eastern soft-shell clams, horse clams, Manila clams, and cockles.
Resident fish present year-round in freshwater portions of the river include white sturgeon, walleye, largemouth bass, crappie, perch, bullheads, and northern pike minnow.
Columbian white-tailed deer are present on all islands and mainland shorelines between Lord and Walker Islands (near Longview) downstream to Tenasillahee Island (near Skamokawa).
Other mammals common to the region include large managed species (including elk, deer, and bear). Many semi-aquatic species such as beaver, muskrat, river otter, mink, and raccoon also utilize habitats in this area. These small mammals are particularly vulnerable to contact with spilled oil because of their habitat preferences.
Specific Geographic Areas of Concern (not including the Willamette River)
- Cape Disappointment (~RM 1): Seabirds nesting on cliffs. Audubon Important Bird Area. Cape Disappointment State Park.
- Jetty Lagoon (~RM 2): Extensive wetland and intertidal mudflat habitats. Rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids and Dungeness crab. Concentration area for migratory and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Fort Canby State Park.
- Baker Bay and vicinity (~RM 3): Extensive eelgrass and intertidal mudflat habitats. Salmonid spawning streams and rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids and Dungeness crab. This area supports the largest nesting colony of Caspian terns in the U.S. (over 10,000 pairs), Washington’s largest breeding concentration of double-crested cormorants (~6,000 pairs) and nearly 10,000 pairs of nesting gulls. Significant concentration area for brown pelicans [SE(OR)] from summer through fall and for migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Audubon Important Bird Area.
- Youngs Bay (~RM 12): Extensive wetland and intertidal mudflat habitats. Rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids and Dungeness crab. Concentration area for migratory and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Fort Clatsop National Monument.
- Grays Bay (~RM 20): Intertidal mudflat and wetland habitats. Salmonid spawning streams and rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. Concentration area for wintering/migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Nesting and foraging area for Bald eagles. Harbor seal haulout area.
- Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge – Cathlamet Bay (~RM 20-34): Refuge islands from Welch Island downstream to Tongue Point provide a diverse array of habitats that support juvenile salmonid rearing and very large concentrations of migratory and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Bald eagles and harbor seals are present year-round.
- Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbian White-Tailed Deer (~RM 34-37): Core habitat area for Columbian white-tailed deer [FT/ST(WA)] both on the mainland west of Cathlamet, as well as on Hunting, Price, and Tenasillahe Islands. Forested tidal swamp habitat. Concentration area for wintering waterfowl and important habitat for cavity-nesting ducks.
- Puget Island and Vicinity (~RM 39-45): Juvenile salmonid-rearing habitat. Concentration area for migrating and wintering waterfowl. Nesting area for bald eagles and great blue herons. Harbor seal haulout area.
- Wallace Island and Vicinity (~RM 50): Complex association of island, river, and slough habitats with rich riparian habitat and freshwater marsh habitat. Rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. Resident nesting, migrating, and wintering waterfowl. Wallace Island and portions of the adjacent mainland are part of the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge.
- Lord Island/Walker/Hump/Fisher Islands and Vicinity (~RM 58-63): Wetland and slough habitats. Fish-rearing habitat. Concentration area for migrating and wintering waterfowl.
- Cowlitz River Mouth/Carrolls Channel/Kalama River mouth (~RM 69-73): Salmonid spawning rivers. Concentrations of waterfowl, seabirds, harbor seals, and California sea lions coincide with winter run of Pacific eulachon smelt [FT].
- Martin/Burke Islands and Vicinity (~RM 79-81): Riparian habitat. Juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels. Concentration area for breeding, migrating, and wintering waterfowl. Area supports cavity-nesting ducks.
- Sauvie Island Wildlife Area and Multnomah Channel (~RM 85-100): Riparian habitat. Juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels. Concentration area for migrating and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds and sandhill cranes [SE(WA)]. Resident nesting waterfowl, bald eagles, and great blue herons. Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife lands. Audubon Important Bird Area.
- Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (~RM 87-92): Riparian habitat. Salmonid spawning stream and juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels. Concentration area for migrating and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds and sandhill cranes [SE(WA)]. Resident nesting waterfowl, bald eagles, and great blue herons. Audubon Important Bird Area.
- Frenchman’s Bar/Shillapoo Wildlife Area (~RM 96-99): Riparian habitat, pasture and agricultural land that supports wintering and migrating concentrations of waterfowl, shorebirds and sandhill cranes [SE(WA)]. Juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels.
- Government Island (~RM 115): Waterfowl concentration area. Great blue heron nesting colony. Government Island State Park. Audubon Important Bird Area.
- Sandy River (~RM 121): Spawning habitat for salmonids and Pacific eulachon smelt [FT].
- Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge/Reed Island State Park (~RM 126): Riparian habitat. Salmonid spawning stream and juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels. Concentrations of migrating and wintering waterfowl and sandhill cranes [SE(WA)] on refuge, and waterfowl on nearby islands and river channels. Resident nesting great blue herons on nearby Reed Island. Audubon Important Bird Area.
- Sand Island Slough (~RM 132): Riparian habitat. Salmonid spawning stream and juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels. Concentrations of migrating and wintering waterfowl in channel behind Sand Island. Rooster Rock State Park.
- Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge (~RM 138): Riparian habitat. Salmonid spawning stream and juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels. Concentrations of migrating and wintering waterfowl on refuge, nearby islands, and river channels.
- Pierce National Wildlife Refuge (~RM 142): Riparian habitat. Salmonid spawning stream and juvenile salmonid rearing habitat in off-river channels. Concentrations of migrating and wintering waterfowl on refuge, nearby islands, and river channels.
Specific Geographic Areas of Concern – Maps
Figure 1: Columbia River, RM 0-34.
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Figure 2: Columbia River, RM 34-63.
Figure 3: Columbia River, RM 69-99.
Figure 4: Columbia River, RM 115-132.
Figure 5: Columbia River, RM 138-142.
Cultural Resources at Risk – Summary
Culturally significant resources are present within the planning area. Information regarding the type and location of cultural resources is maintained by the Washington Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation (WDAHP). This sensitive information is made available to the Washington Department of Ecology for oil spill preparedness and response planning. The Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) or Cultural Resource Departments of local tribes (see table below) may also be able to provide information on cultural resources at risk in the area and should be contacted, along with WDAHP, through normal trustee notification processes when significant oil spills, or smaller spills above reportable thresholds, occur in the area.
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During a spill response, after the Unified Command is established, information related to specific archeological concerns will be coordinated through the Environmental Unit. To ensure that tactical response strategies do not inadvertently harm culturally sensitive sites, WDAHP should be consulted before disturbing any soil or sediment during a response action, including submerged soils or sediments. WDAHP and/or the Tribal governments may assign a person or provide a list of professional archeologists that can be contracted, to monitor response activities and cleanup operations for the protection of cultural resources at risk. Due to the sensitive nature of such information, details regarding the location and type of cultural resources present are not included in this document.
LCR-GRP Cultural Resource Contacts
| Contact | Phone | |
| Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (WDAHP) | (360) 586-3065 | Rob.Whitlam@dahp.wa.gov |
| Oregon Heritage/State Historic Preservation Office | (503) 986-0690 | oregon.heritage@oregon.gov |
| Cowlitz Indian Tribe, THPO | (360) 353-9924 | srussell@cowlitz.org |
| Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, THPO | (503) 879-2084 | thpo@grandronde.org |
| Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, THPO | (541) 429-7234 | CareyMiller@ctuir.org |
| Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, THPO | (509) 985-7596 | Kate_valdez@yakama.com |
Discovery of Human Skeletal Remains
The finding of human skeletal remains will be reported to the county medical examiner/coroner and local law enforcement in the most expeditious manner possible. The remains will not be touched, moved, or further disturbed. The county medical examiner/coroner will assume jurisdiction over the human skeletal remains and make a determination of whether those remains are forensic or non-forensic. If the county medical examiner/coroner determines the remains are non-forensic, then they will report that finding to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) who will then take jurisdiction over the remains. The DAHP will notify any appropriate cemeteries and all affected tribes of the find. The State Physical Anthropologist will make a determination of whether the remains are Indian or Non-Indian and report that finding to any appropriate cemeteries and the affected tribes. The DAHP will then handle all consultation with the affected parties as to the future preservation, excavation, and disposition of the remains.
Any human remains, burial sites, or burial-related materials that are discovered during a spill response must be treated with respect at all times (photographing human remains is prohibited to all except the appropriate authorities). Refer to National Historic Preservation Act Compliance Guidelines (NWRCP Section 9403) during an emergency response.
Procedures for the Discovery of Cultural Resources
If any person monitoring work activities or involved in spill response believes that they have encountered cultural resources, all workers must stop immediately and notify the Unified Command and Cultural Resource Specialist. The area of work stoppage must be adequate to provide for the security, protection, and integrity of the material or artifact(s) discovered.
Prehistoric Cultural Resources (May include, but are not limited to, any of the following items):
- Lithic debitage (stone chips and other tool-making byproducts)
- Flaked or ground stone tools
- Exotic rock, minerals, or quarries
- Concentrations of organically stained sediments, charcoal, or ash
- Fire-modified rock
- Rock alignments or rock structures
- Bone (burned, modified, or in association with other bone, artifacts, or features)
- Shell or shell fragments
- Petroglyphs and pictographs
- Fish weirs, fish traps, and prehistoric water craft
- Culturally modified trees
- Physical locations or features (traditional cultural properties)
- Submerged villages sites or artifacts
Historic cultural material (May include any of the following items over 50 years old):
- Bottles, or other glass
- Cans
- Ceramics
- Milled wood, brick, concrete, metal, or other building material
- Trash dumps
- Homesteads, building remains
- Logging, mining, or railroad features
- Piers, wharves, docks, bridges, dams, or shipwrecks
- Shipwrecks or other submerged historical objects
Economic Resources at Risk – Summary
Socio-economic sensitive resources are facilities or locations that rely on a body of water to be economically viable. Because of their location, they could be severely impacted if an oil spill were to occur. Economically sensitive resources are separated into three categories: critical infrastructure, water dependent commercial areas, and water dependent recreation areas. Another section lists economic resources for this planning area.
General Information
Flight Restriction Zones
The Environmental Unit (Planning Section) may recommend flight restriction zones to minimize disturbance or injury to wildlife during an oil spill. Pilots/operators can decrease the risk of aircraft/bird collisions, prevent the accidental driving of wildlife into oiled areas, and minimize abandonment of nests by keeping a safe distance and altitude from these identified sensitive areas.
The Air Operations Branch (Operations Section) will manage all aircraft operations related to a response and will coordinate the establishment of any Flight Restriction Zones as appropriate. Environmental Unit staff will work with the Air Operations Branch Director to resolve any conflicts that arise between flight activities and sensitive resources.
In addition to restrictions associated with wildlife, Tribal authorities may also request notification when overflights are likely to affect culturally sensitive areas within reservations. See Oil Spill Best Management Practices (NWRCP Section 9301) for more information on the use of aircraft and helicopters in open water and shoreline responses.
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Wildlife Deterrence
The Wildlife Deterrence Unit within the Wildlife Branch (Operations Section) manages wildlife deterrence operations. These are actions intended to minimize injuries to wildlife by keeping animals away from the oil and cleanup operations. Deterrence activities may include using acoustic or visual deterrent devices, boats, aircraft, or other tools. The Wildlife Branch works with state and federal agencies, and the Environmental Unit (Planning Section), to develop deterrence plans as appropriate.
For more information see the Northwest Wildlife Response Plan (NWRCP Section 9310) and Northwest Area Wildlife Deterrence Resources (NWRCP Section 9311).
Oiled Wildlife
Capturing oiled wildlife may be hazardous to both personnel and the affected animals. Incident personnel should not try to approach or capture oiled wildlife but should report any observations of oiled wildlife to the Wildlife Branch (Operations Section).
For more information see the Northwest Wildlife Response Plan (NWRCP Section 9310).
Wilderness Refuges and Wilderness Areas
The following are located within this region:
- Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
- Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
- Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Pierce National Wildlife Refuge
Aquatic Invasive Species
The waters of this region may contain aquatic invasive species (AIS) – species of plants and/or animals that are not native to an area and that can be harmful to an area’s ecosystem. If so, preventative actions may be required to prevent the spread of these species because of spill response activities and the Environmental Unit is able to recommend operational techniques and strategies to assist with this issue.