Taidnapam Park

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Taidnapam Park
Taidnapam Park 2021.jpg
Taidnapam Park from the 108 Bridge, 2021
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Taidnapam Park
TypeCampground, playground, picnic and swim areas, fishing, boat launches
Location117 Cayuse Lane, Glenoma, Washington [1]
Coordinates 46°28′12″N122°09′54″W / 46.470°N 122.165°W / 46.470; -122.165
OpenedMay 1994
EtymologyNamed after the Upper Cowlitz tribe
Administered byTacoma Power
Visitors34,000(in 1994)
StatusOpen
TerrainFlat
WaterRiffe Lake, Cowlitz River
PlantsNative vegetation
ParkingParking lot
FacilitiesBathrooms

Taidnapam Park (tide-nuh-pom) is a park in Lewis County, Washington and is situated in Glenoma at the mouth of the Cowlitz River with its confluence at Riffe Lake. The grounds are under the oversight of Tacoma Public Utilities.

Contents

History

The area was once populated by the Cowlitz and Yakama tribes up to 4,600 years ago. [2] The Upper Cowlitz are also known as the Taidnapam. [3] [4]

Taidnapam Park was first known as the Kosmos Recreation Site and construction began in the early 1990s. [5] Taidnapam opened in May 1994 and was listed at being 106 acres (43 ha) in size. Over 34,000 visitors were recorded in its first year. [6] The recreation site has been owned and managed by Tacoma Power during its entirety and is part of the overall Cowlitz River Project. [2] [7]

Expansion of camping amenities began in 2003 as part of Tacoma Power's operating license renewal. The number of campsites were more than doubled and new restrooms and the north boat launch were built. [8] The park's access to Riffe Lake, including boating and fishing, was diminished beginning in 2017 after Tacoma Power lowered water levels due to concerns of damages to downstream communities in the event of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake at Mossyrock Dam. [9]

Amenities

Taidnapam Park is open during the entire year and provides for overnight camping, including for RV's, and visitors can access Riffe Lake for fishing and other recreational activities. Anglers can also fish by using the park's fishing bridge and the waters include various species of trout. Numerous hiking trails are located on the grounds and there are a variety of picnic and playground amenities. [2]

The cantilevered bridge, known as the Taidnapam Park Bridge or more locally as the 108 Bridge, [10] was awarded first place as a Pedestrian Light Vehicular Bridge at the 1992 National Engineering Timber Bridge Design Competition. [11]

The grounds contain two boat launches. The north launch was specifically constructed so that access to Riffe Lake can occur during low water levels; the south boat ramp was modified after the water levels were lowered in the lake in 2017. [9] [12] [13]

Features

The grounds include a Native American exhibit on the history of the various tribes of the Cowlitz and Yakama. [14] Visitors can pass through the park and visit Mossyrock Dam or travel to a hiking trail to view a 248 foot (76 metres) tall waterfall known as Cathedral Falls. [15]

Ecology and environment

Immediately north of the park is the Kosmos Unit, a part of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area. Also known as Kosmos Flat, the 520-acre (210 ha) site contains a mix of habitats, such as meadow, riparian, and wetland, and is split by Rainey Creek. Parts of the meadow are flooded during peak water levels. The unit contains a small hardwood forest and is known for abundant wildlife, especially various species of birds including pheasants, ospreys, and raptors. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis County, Washington</span> County in Washington, United States

Lewis County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 82,149. The county seat is Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia. Lewis County comprises the Centralia, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morton, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yakama</span> Ethnic group

The Yakama are a Native American tribe with nearly 10,851 members, based primarily in eastern Washington state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowlitz people</span> Two distinct indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest

The term Cowlitz people covers two culturally and linguistically distinct indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest; the Lower Cowlitz or Cowlitz proper, and the Upper Cowlitz / Cowlitz Klickitat or Taitnapam. Lower Cowlitz refers to a southwestern Coast Salish people, which today are enrolled in the federally recognized tribes: Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, and Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. The Upper Cowlitz or Taitnapam, is a Northwest Sahaptin speaking people, part of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowlitz River</span> River in Washington, United States

The Cowlitz River is a river in the state of Washington in the United States, a tributary of the Columbia River. Its tributaries drain a large region including the slopes of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens.

Randle is a small town in eastern Lewis County, Washington, United States. Randle is located on U.S. Route 12 and is notable as the northeastern access point to the Mount St. Helens Windy Ridge viewpoint, by way of forest service roads that cut through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington State Route 7</span> State highway in Lewis and Pierce counties

State Route 7 (SR 7) is a state highway in Lewis and Pierce counties, located in the U.S. state of Washington. The 58.60-mile (94.31 km) long roadway begins at U.S. Route 12 (US 12) in Morton and continues north to intersect several other state highways to Tacoma, where it ends at an interchange with Interstate 5 (I-5) and I-705. The road has several names, such as Second Street in Morton, the Mountain Highway in rural areas, Pacific Avenue in Spanaway, Parkland and Tacoma and 38th Street in Tacoma. Near the end of the highway there is a short freeway that has been proposed to be extended south parallel to an already existing railroad, owned by Tacoma Rail, which serves as the median of the short freeway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Mayfield</span> Lake in Washington state, U.S.

Lake Mayfield is a reservoir located near Mossyrock, Washington, in Lewis County. It was created by Mayfield Dam on the Cowlitz River, one of the dams in the Columbia River watershed.

Glenoma is an unincorporated community in Lewis County located off U.S. Route 12, between the towns of Morton and Randle. The area is northeast of Riffe Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosmos, Washington</span> Flooded town

Kosmos was an unincorporated community in Lewis County, Washington, southwest of Glenoma and is now considered a flooded town. Kosmos is named from a Greek term meaning "the world or universe as an embodiment of order and harmony".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 12 in Washington</span> Section of U.S. Highway in Washington, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mossyrock Dam</span> Dam in Washington state

Mossyrock Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Cowlitz River near Mossyrock in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The reservoir created by the dam is called Riffe Lake. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric production while flood control is a secondary function. The dam is the tallest in Washington state and its hydroelectric power station supplies 40% of Tacoma Power's electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riffe Lake</span> Reservoir in Washington, United States

Riffe Lake is a long reservoir on the Cowlitz River in the U.S. state of Washington. The 23.5 mi (38 km) lake was created by the construction of Mossyrock Dam, the tallest dam in the state, in 1968 by Tacoma City Light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike Kinswa State Park</span> State park in Lewis County, Washington, US

Ike Kinswa State Park is a public recreation area on the northern side of Lake Mayfield, located three miles (4.8 km) northwest of Mossyrock in Lewis County, Washington. The state park covers 421 acres (170 ha) that include 46,000 feet (14,000 m) of shoreline mostly along the Tilton River including the point where the Tilton and Cowlitz rivers once merged. The park offers boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing and windsurfing plus facilities for camping, hiking, and mountain biking, It is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohanapecosh River</span> River in Washington, United States

The Ohanapecosh River is a 16-mile (26 km) river in the U.S. state of Washington.

Swofford, also known as Swofford Valley, is an unincorporated community in central Lewis County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The town sits on the south shore of Riffe Lake, approximately 4.0 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Mossyrock.

Nesika was an unincorporated town in Lewis County, Washington, southeast of Mossyrock. It is now a flooded town.

Harmony is an unincorporated town in Lewis County, Washington. The community is located near the junction of the Cowlitz River and Mayfield Lake, and is situated off Route 122, north of Mossyrock.

References

  1. ↑ The Chronicle staff (April 9, 2014). "Riffe Lake to Host Youth Bass Fishing Challenge in June". The Chronicle . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Craig Hill (March 26, 2010). "Weekend Getaway: Park yourself at Taidnapam". The Olympian . Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  3. ↑ May, James (January 4, 2002). "Cowlitz Recognition". ICT News . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  4. ↑ Wilma, David (September 18, 2005). "Cowlitz County — Thumbnail History". HistoryLink . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  5. ↑ Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Reports, Volume 71. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 1995. p. 64,217. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ Relicensing the Cowlitz River Hydroelectric Project. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2001. pp. 3–72, 3–75. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ Nisqually Hydroelectric Project, Nisqually River, Pierce County, Thurston County, Lewis County. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 1996. p. 3-45. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ The Chronicle staff (July 15, 2005). "Park expansion planned". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Nailon, Jordan (February 16, 2017). "Earthquake Fears: Tacoma Power Plans Prolonged Low Levels at Lake". Government Technology . The Chronicle. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Rose, Buddy (February 9, 2007). "Fish Elude Most Lake Anglers". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  11. ↑ Coger, Tinathan (February 1994). Crossings. United States Forest Service. p. 2. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  12. ↑ Nailon, Jordan (March 16, 2018). "Tacoma Power Releases Updated Riffe Lake Recreation Plan". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ Vander Stoep, Isabel (June 2, 2023). "Riffe Lake Accessibility Still Limited as Boat Launch Opens for Season; Mossyrock Mayor Expresses Frustration". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ The Chronicle staff (April 27, 2007). "Enjoy Some Roadside History". The Chronicle. p. 14. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  15. ↑ Voie, Brittany (April 6, 2015). "Chasing Lewis County Waterfalls: A Guide to Visiting 10 Waterfalls in One Day". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  16. ↑ Mohney, Russ (March 12, 2004). "Kosmos Flat not large, but attracts lots of wildlife". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
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