The MCRD-GRP encompasses The Dalles Pool (a.k.a. Lake Celilo), and covers a 25 mile reach of the Columbia River, continuing to run east from just upstream of The Dalles Lock and Dam (located at river mile D-191.6) to the John Day Lock and Dam (located at river mile J-216.4). Portions of WRIA 30 (Klickitat) fall within this planning area. The Dalles Pool is bordered by Klickitat County on the Washington side of the river, Wasco and Sherman counties on the Oregon side.

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The nearly vertical cliffs of the Gorge are vulnerable to landslides, four of which occurred approximately 500 years ago, covering five square miles near Bonneville where they blocked the Columbia River and created a land bridge. The land bridge was located in the area of the current bridge known as “The Bridge of the Gods” and was perhaps the origin of the name, having been passed down through oral tradition. The dam formed by the land bridge created a lake of approximately the same size as the modern day Bonneville Pool, although within a few months the Columbia River breached this natural dam creating a flood 100 feet deep at Troutdale, OR. The Gorge is still susceptible to landslides; in 1984 two children were killed in a slide along Interstate 84 near Cascade Locks. In 1990 four highway workers were injured near Troutdale, and in 1996 a landslide in the Dodeson/Warrendale area of Oregon destroyed numerous homes, before sweeping across the railroad line and Interstate 84. The features of this area continue to be shaped by landslides and the geomorphology of the Columbia River’s flow.

The river runs through the eastern plateau/steppe and then cuts through the Cascade and Coastal Mountain Ranges before entering the Pacific Ocean with much of the Middle Columbia located within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As a result of the changing landscape, the climate surrounding the river changes drastically. The western side of the Gorge includes rainforests with an average annual rainfall of 75 inches. It is a place rich in wildlife, with forests, lakes, streams, wetlands, and more waterfalls than any other part of the country. The eastern Gorge has an annual rainfall of less than 15 inches, consists of a shrub steppe ecosystem, and is a place of rock bluffs and rolling hills used for farming and ranching.

Humans have also had an impact on the Columbia River. Archaeological evidence shows that nomads were staying in the Gorge over 14,500 years ago, and that settlements were established as early as 11,230 years ago.[4] Well before the establishment of white settlements, the Native people had developed the largest trading center in the Northwest at the Long Narrows of The Dalles/Celilo Falls area. Celilo is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited community on the North American continent. The center linked a trade network that extended along the entire Pacific Coast and inland to the Great Plains. Native people living on the Columbia River received a variety of trade goods from all across the region, much of it received in return for one of their most prized resources — salmon. Salmon were central to the culture of the region’s peoples, a part of their religious belief system, providing sustenance and trade goods.

Europeans and Americans began exploring and trading in the Pacific Northwest in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries. In 1792 Captain Robert Gray explored the lower river and named it for his ship, the Columbia Rediva. In 1805 the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled down the Snake and into the Columbia River, arriving at The Dalles/Celilo Falls area, which Clark noted as being a “great mart of trade”. Within the next 50 years numerous white settlements were established along the river by people following the Oregon Trail or arriving by ship via the Pacific Ocean. The earliest treaties were negotiated with the region’s Native peoples in 1855, and by 1859 Oregon had become a state; Washington followed, with statehood granted in 1889. The first salmon cannery was established on the river in 1866. In 1873 the USACE began modifying the river to aid navigation by removing obstructions, and from 1876-1915 building canals.

The USACE further shaped the Middle Columbia River into its current form through the construction of dams, beginning with the Bonneville Lock and Dam started in 1934 and completed in 1938, to the McNary Lock and Dam finished in 1957, The Dalles Lock and Dam finished in 1960, and the John Day Lock and Dam, completed in 1971. The dams tamed the river’s once notorious rapids and created the sub-sectional pools of the area. Fish lost due to the creation of the dams were ensured by the Mitchell Act (1938) to be replenished by the creation of hatcheries. The dams inundated many of the Native American’s traditional fishing areas and in 1939, In-Lieu sites were promised to the affected Tribes to compensate for their losses. The USACE began constructing In-Lieu sites in 1953 and as of the publishing of this document in 2015 there are 31 sites located in the area covered within the MCR. The dams also provide irrigation and flood control, important to an area with substantial farmland (grains and livestock), as well as hydroelectric power to Oregon and Washington. In addition, the Columbia River Gorge, renowned for its stunning beauty and spectacular history, supports tourism in the area, providing a wealth of recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, mountain biking, windsurfing, and kayaking.

Within the MCR, each pool has its own unique attributes and communities. The Dalles Pool is 25 miles long, has a capacity of 330,000 acre/feet. The western half of the pool forms the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Prior to the creation of the reservoir, this section of the river contained Celilo Falls, one of the numerous rapids that were formerly characteristic of the Middle Columbia. The construction of the dams raised the water level of the river above the geologic falls formation, leaving it submerged. The falls were an important traditional fishing location for the tribes and although submerged, the site remains a place of integral cultural value. There is very little development in the area surrounding The Dalles Pool. Located in the transition zone of the Gorge, between the eastern steppe and the western rain forests, the area serves primarily as a transportation, and salmon, corridor. Along with the river itself, there are highways on either bank, with the Sam Hill Memorial Bridge (Highway 97) spanning the Columbia connecting Central Washington to Central Oregon. Located on the Washington side are the small communities of Wishram and Maryhill, with Celilo Village, Biggs Junction, and Rufus on the Oregon side of the river. Celilo Village is the modern incarnation of the ancient tribal settlement sites that surrounded the falls prior to their inundation by the reservoir.

Despite the diverse change in scenery surrounding the river through each of its various pools, the shoreline habitats remain relatively consistent over the course of the MCR. They can be characterized as: exposed rocky headlands, wave-cut platforms, pocket beaches along exposed rocky shores, sand beaches, sand and gravel beaches, sand and cobble beaches, sheltered rocky shores, and sheltered marshes.

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The flow of water in the MCR-GRP’s 200 mile reach of the Columbia River is controlled by dam outflows within each pool. The Dalles Pool has an average elevation of 158 feet above mean sea level. The main tributary river feeding into The Dalles Pool is the Deschutes River located on the Oregon side, which is adjacent to the Hood River watershed.  On the Washington side, portions of Water Resource Inventory Area Klickitat (WRIA 30) fall within the geographic boundaries of this plan.

Klickitat (WRIA 30):  Many areas of central Washington are arid, receiving less than 20 inches of rain annually. Most of this precipitation 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. At the same time the demand for water for human uses, including irrigation are at the yearly maximum. This means that groundwater and surface water are least available when water demands are the highest.

Deschutes: The Deschutes Basin is the second largest watershed in Oregon, covering 10,759 square miles in the north-central part of the state. The headwaters of the Deschutes River and most major tributaries receive large amounts of precipitation, but much of the subbasin lies in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and is sheltered from western Oregon’s heavy rainfall. Average annual precipitation amounts to more than 100 inches on the eastern slopes of the Cascades, mostly as snow, but drops to only 40 inches in the Ochoco Mountains and 10 inches at lower central locations. The climate in much of the basin is considered continental, with low precipitation and humidity, large daily temperature fluctuations throughout the year, and high evaporation rates.

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Western winds carrying moisture in the air from the Pacific are pushed up against the Coast Range, the Olympic Mountains, and finally the Cascade mountains, creating a phenomenon known as a rain shadow. A rain shadow is an area on the leeward side of the mountains which is sheltered from the rain, creating a distinct shift in climate. As the air rises to pass over the mountains it expands and cools, releasing moisture in the form of precipitation on the western flanks. By the time these winds pass over the Cascades there is little moisture remaining, creating the shrub steppe ecosystem that is emblematic of Eastern Washington.

The Dalles Pool is on the eastern end of the transition zone, demarking the beginning of a much drier region than that of the downstream sections of the Columbia. The Dalles’ mean annual temperature is 54°F, ranging from an average low of 35°F in January, to an average high of 74°F in July. Recorded temperature extremes include a low of -6°F and a high of 109°F. Mean precipitation is 14 inches with more than three quarters occurring between November and March. Annual snowfall is 11 inches, with more than half occurring in January.

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The Columbia River is one of the principal resources found in the Pacific Northwest with a plethora of natural, cultural, and economic resources intrinsically connected to the river, all at risk of injury from oil spills. Potential risks to these resources include large commercial vessels, roads, rail systems, aircraft, recreational boating, and other factors.

Oil Types: Both refined petroleum products and crude oil are transported in bulk within this planning area.

Crude oil and refined products contain a mix of hydrocarbons with varying properties; different types of crude oil and refined products will behave differently when spilled. Recent changes in oil production have led to an increase in the movement of Bakken light crude transported through the planning area via rail, and diluted bitumen from Canada transported through the planning area via pipeline and, to a lesser extent, rail.

Crude oil from the Bakken fields in North Dakota has properties similar to gasoline or diesel, and poses a higher risk of fire because much of it will evaporate quickly into flammable vapors. Unlike gasoline, the heavier hydrocarbons in the crude will persist in the environment after the light ends evaporate or burn. Bitumen from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada, is heavy, almost asphalt-like, until it is mixed with lighter oil products known as diluents to create diluted bitumen. Once mixed, the diluted bitumen will initially float on water after being spilled. Environmental conditions, such as the density of the receiving waters and sediment load of the receiving waters, will affect how long diluted bitumen floats. As the light diluents evaporate, the remaining heavy constituents may sink into the water column.[1] There are specific response actions recommended for non-floating oils, detailed in the Non-Floating Oil Spill Response Tool in the Northwest Area Contingency Plan (NWACP), Section 9412.

Large Commercial Vessel Traffic:  There is significant commercial movement through the Middle Columbia corridor which offers six separate port facilities, including the Ports of: Arlington, Hood River, The Dalles, Kennewick, Klickitat, and Skamania. The Dalles Lock reports “an average of 8 million tons of cargo, mostly grain and petroleum products, passing through each year.”[1] Future oil movement along the Columbia River Vessel Route is estimated to reach 566 million gallons/yr (based on best annual estimates and 2013 data).[2] The potential for vessel collisions or groundings presents a significant spill risk. Large commercial vessels typically carry significant amounts of heavy and blended fuel oils and other petroleum products, increasing the risk for sensitive resources to be impacted if an oil spill incident were to occur.

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 Columbia River. Several main highways run parallel to the river, including Highway 14 in Washington and Interstate-84 in Oregon. Within the MCR area there are six major highway bridges that cross the Columbia River, two that cross the Yakima River, and one that crosses the Snake River. In addition, there are approximately 30 smaller bridges or causeways where vehicles cross tributaries or small lakes on the shores of the Columbia. 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 trunks, and may carry almost any kind of cargo, including hazardous waste or other material that would pose a risk to the environment. Smaller vehicle accidents pose a risk as well — commensurate to the volume of fuel and oil they carry.

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 riverbanks 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 opposing bank in Oregon.

Vancouver Energy is a facility proposed for the Port of Vancouver, which if approved, would initially handle one to two crude-by-rail trains per day, and would be capable of receiving an average of four per day.[1]

Aircraft: Several airports are located within the MCR area including the: Cascade Locks State Airport, Columbia Gorge Airport, Arlington Municipal Airport, and Tri-Cities Airport. 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 water craft on the Columbia 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, a vessel grounding, catching on fire, 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.

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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.

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Several of the species found in this area have been classified under the Federal Endangered Species Act or by the Washington State Fish and Wildlife commission.

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 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive species that may occur within this area, at some time of the year, include:

Mammals:

None likely to be impacted in this area

Birds:

• American white pelican [ST(WA)]
• common loon [SS(WA)]
• ferruginous hawk [ST(WA)]
• sandhill crane [SE(WA)]
• yellow-billed cuckoo [FT/SE (WA)]

Fish:

• bull trout [FT]
• chinook salmon, 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]
• sockeye salmon (Snake River) [FE]
• steelhead trout (middle Columbia) [FT]; (Snake River) [FT]; (upper Columbia) [FT]; upper Willamette River [FT]

Amphibians:

• western pond turtle [SE(WA)]

Critical habitats:

These are the specific areas occupied by an endangered or threatened species 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 designated critical habitat within this area:

• bull trout
• chinook salmon Fall (Snake River); Spring (upper Columbia River)
• sockeye salmon -Spring/Summer (Snake River)
• steelhead (middle Columbia River); (upper Columbia River); (Snake River)

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• Side channels and impounded areas provide feeding and resting areas for waterfowl and herons and are important rearing areas for juvenile fish.
• Several rivers and smaller tributary streams flow into the mainstem of the Columbia River within this area. These act as important salmon migration routes and spawning areas, as well as providing rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids and resident fish species. Stream mouths are concentration areas for anadromous fish and are feeding areas for a variety of birds. Wintering waterfowl use the mainstem Columbia as well as these rivers as some of the open water associated with the lower reaches of the rivers and streams.
• Riparian areas serve as transitional zones between the uplands and the rivers and consequently are heavily used by a variety of wildlife. They contribute to nearshore fish habitat by providing shade, cover, and food. They also play a crucial role in supporting a large diversity and abundance of songbird species as breeding, migrating, and overwintering habitat.
• Islands provide important nesting areas for a variety of bird species, as well as habitat for a variety of mammals.
• Numerous habitat restoration sites exist along the middle Columbia River and its tributaries. Often, significant resources have been invested in these locations to improve stream conditions specific to salmon recovery.
• Subsurface habitats: The shallow subsurface habitats that occur within this region include:
  • Fine sediments (mud/silt/sand) – Associated with slow/still water flows. May have aquatic vegetation present. Animals associated with these areas may be: salmonid and resident fishes; birds (dabbling and diving ducks); semi-aquatic mammals (muskrat, beaver, etc.); shellfish (freshwater clams); amphibians and reptiles (frogs, newts, salamanders, turtles, etc.); insects caddis flies, mayflies, dragonflies, and stoneflies). Many other animals also utilize these areas for foraging.
  • Coarse sediments (gravel/cobble) – Associated with moderate water flow. May have aquatic vegetation present. Animals associated with these areas may be: salmonid and resident fishes; birds (dippers, harlequin ducks); semi-aquatic mammals (muskrat, beaver, etc.); shellfish (western pearlshell mussels, crayfish); amphibians and reptiles (tailed frogs, torrent salamanders; insects caddis flies, stoneflies). Many other animals also utilize these areas for foraging.
  • Bedrock – Associated with fast water with little or no deposition of loose bed materials. Aquatic vegetation not typically present. Animals associated with these areas tend to be mostly cold-water (salmonid) fishes, birds (dippers, harlequin ducks), and amphibians (torrent salamanders).

Fish:

• Varioussalmonids (both juvenile and adults), including several listed stocks, are present in the Columbia River, above the Dalles Dam throughout the year. Millions of juvenile salmonids move downstream through this area and use this area for rearing and foraging as they prepare for migration to the ocean. Returning adult salmonids of various types and stocks support significant tribal and recreational fisheries.
• Anadromous fish (other than salmon) in this region include American shad and Pacific lamprey.
• Resident fish present year-round in the river include white sturgeon, walleye, largemouth bass, crappie, perch, bullheads, and northern pike minnow.

Wildlife:

• Significant waterfowl concentrations exist throughout this GRP region from fall through spring. Hundreds of thousands of geese, swans and dabbling ducks may occupy this region during peak periods. Resident and migratory waterfowl heavily utilize the islands, backwaters, wetlands and adjacent uplands of the region from fall through spring. Numerous islands in this sub-region also provide nesting habitat for resident waterfowl.
• Bald eagles andgreat blue herons are nesting residents and may be found year-round throughout the region. Peregrine falcons are commonly found as winter and spring visitors. Other raptors, including golden eagles, osprey, northern harrier, and burrowing owl are also regularly found in this area.
• Resident and migratory songbirds heavily utilize riparian habitats year-round and are susceptible to response activities that disturb riparian vegetation.
• Mammals common to the region include managed species such as deer, etc. Other mammals present include semi-aquatic species such as beaver, muskrat, river otter, mink and raccoon. Because of their habitat preferences, these latter species are vulnerable to contact with spilled oil.
• Amphibians and reptiles are found throughout this area.

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Columbia River, Lake Celilo (~RM 192-215).

1. Spearfish/Little Spearfish Lakes (~RM 193): Impounded waterbody. Waterfowl concentration area. Western pond turtle [SE]. ACOE Park.
2. Horsethief Lake (~RM 194). Impounded waterbody. Waterfowl concentration area. State park.
3. Brown’s Island and vicinity (~RM 197): This island provides important bird breeding and winter concentration areas that include various waterfowl, American white pelican [SE], raptors, and herons. Islands on Oregon side of river also serve as salmonid concentration and rearing areas.
4. Celilo Park (~RM 201): Salmonid concentration. Public recreation.
5. Miller Island (~RM 203-206): Waterfowl concentration area. Great blue heron and raptor breeding area. Salmonids.
6. Lower Deschutes River (~RM 204): Waterfowl concentration area. Salmonid habitat. State Park.
7. Mary Hill Park (~RM 208): Riparian habitat. State Park.
8. Rufus Islands (~RM 210-213): Waterfowl breeding and winter concentration areas. Salmonid concentration and rearing habitat. Resident warm water fish presence.

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Figure 1: Geographic areas of concern for the Middle Columbia River – Dalles Pool Area GRP.

Figure 2: Additional geographic areas of concern for the Middle Columbia River – Dalles Pool Area GRP.

During a spill response, after the Unified Command is established, information related to specific archeological concerns will be coordinated through the Environmental Unit. In order 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.

Table 6-1: MCRD-GRP Cultural Resource Contacts

Discovery of Human Skeletal 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 (NWACP 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

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Fish hatcheries and infrastructure

Irrigon National Fish Hatchery

74735 Riverview lane

Irrigon, OR 97844-7114

541-922-5762

Umatilla Fish Hatchery

73959 Riverview Lane

Irrigon, OR 97844

541-922-5659

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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 (NWACP Section 9301) for more information on the use of aircraft and helicopters in open water and shoreline responses.

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 (NWACP Section 9310) and Northwest Area Wildlife Deterrence Resources (NWACP 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 (NWACP Section 9310).

Wildlife Refuges and Wilderness Areas: There are no federal wildlife refuges or wilderness areas within this region.

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 as a result of spill response activities and the Environmental Unit is able to recommend operational techniques and strategies to assist with this issue.

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