Lower Columbia Basin

“Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1904-1905 in this basin. This region’s relatively small streams drain onto floodplains and into the tidal reaches of the Columbia River. Waters flow either from the Coast Range (Skipanon, Young’s, and Clatskanie rivers, Big and Gnat creeks) or from the west slope of the Cascades (the Sandy River). These streams generally have heavily forested hillsides in headwater areas and steep valleys. Nearly the entire Columbia River floodplain has been diked. Undiked areas of the floodplain support very high species diversity. Anadromous fish species listings under the federal Endangered Species Act include Chum and Chinook salmon, and steelhead. Maritime shipping, forestry, and wood processing are key elements of the economy in this basin. Extensive hybrid cottonwood plantations occupy much of the diked floodplain.

Fort Stevens (now a state park) was the primary military defense installation in the three fort Harbor Defense System at the mouth of the Columbia River (Forts Canby and Columbia in Washington were the other two). The fort served for 84 years, beginning with the Civil War and closing at the end of World War II. Today, Fort Stevens has grown into a 3,700 acre park offering exploration of history, nature, and recreational opportunities.”

“The Sandy River was explored by Lewis and Clark passed on November 3, 1805, and called the ‘Quicksand River,” after finding the mouth shallow and impassable.”

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