Little White Salmon River

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Little White Salmon River
FMIB 33309 Little White Salmon River.jpeg
Fish hatchery and log flume, 1898
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Location of the mouth of the Little White Salmon River in Washington
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Little White Salmon River (the US)
Location
Country United States
State Washington
County Skamania, Klickitat
Physical characteristics
SourceMonte Cristo Range of the Cascade Range
 - location Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Klickitat County
 - coordinates 45°55′07″N121°35′52″W / 45.91861°N 121.59778°W / 45.91861; -121.59778 [1]
 - elevation3,384 ft (1,031 m) [2]
Mouth Columbia River
 - location
Drano Lake of the Bonneville Pool, Skamania County
 - coordinates
 45°43′14″N121°38′25″W / 45.72056°N 121.64028°W / 45.72056; -121.64028 Coordinates: 45°43′14″N121°38′25″W / 45.72056°N 121.64028°W / 45.72056; -121.64028 [1]
 - elevation
98 ft (30 m) [1]
Length19 mi (31 km) [3]
Basin size136 sq mi (350 km2) [4]

The Little White Salmon River is a tributary, about 19 miles (31 km) long, [3] of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Its headwaters are in the Monte Cristo Range in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The river flows from this part of the Cascade Range into Drano Lake, an arm of the Bonneville Pool of the Columbia. [4] The river drains a basin of 136 square miles (350 km2) [4] The basin's population was an estimated 513 in 2000. [4]

Columbia River River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It flows northwest and then south into the US state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state of Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The river is 1,243 miles (2,000 km) long, and its largest tributary is the Snake River. Its drainage basin is roughly the size of France and extends into seven US states and a Canadian province. The fourth-largest river in the United States by volume, the Columbia has the greatest flow of any North American river entering the Pacific.

Washington (state) State of the United States of America

Washington, officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Named for George Washington, the first president of the United States, the state was made out of the western part of the Washington Territory, which was ceded by Britain in 1846 in accordance with the Oregon Treaty in the settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute. It was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889. Olympia is the state capital; the state's largest city is Seattle. Washington is sometimes referred to as Washington State to distinguish it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest protected area in the state of Washington, United States

Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a National Forest located in southern Washington, USA, managed by the United States Forest Service. With an area of 1.32 million acres (5300 km2), it extends 116 km along the western slopes of Cascade Range from Mount Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. The forest straddles the crest of the South Cascades of Washington State, spread out over broad, old growth forests, high mountain meadows, several glaciers, and numerous volcanic peaks. The forest's highest point is at 12,276 ft. at the top of Mount Adams, the second tallest volcano in the state after Rainier. It includes the 110,000-acre (450 km2) Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, established by Congress in 1982

Contents

Whitewater kayaking experts sometimes run a 4-mile (6.4 km) stretch of rapids in a steep canyon between the Cook– Underwood Road bridge and Drano Lake. [5] The run, dangerous throughout, is rated Class V (extremely difficult) on the International Scale of River Difficulty. [5] Named rapids include Gettin' Busy, Boulder Sluice, Island, Sacriledge, Double Drop, Backender, S-Turn, Wishbone, Bowey's Hotel, The Gorge, Stovepipe, Spirit Falls, Chaos and Master Blaster. [5] The river has been the scene of two kayaking deaths since this stretch was first run in the 1990s. [6]

Whitewater kayaking type of sport

Whitewater kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater kayaking can range from active, moving water, to demanding, extreme whitewater.

Underwood, Washington Unincorporated community in Washington, United States

Underwood is an unincorporated community in Skamania County, Washington, United States. Underwood is located along Washington State Route 14 at the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers. It is across the Columbia River from Hood River, Oregon, and 2 miles (3.2 km) west of White Salmon, Washington. Underwood has a post office with ZIP code 98651.

Course

The Little White Salmon River begins in the Monte Cristo Range in western Klickitat County near its border with Skamania County. In its upper reaches, it flows generally south through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest before turning southwest, receiving Beetle Creek from the right and entering Skamania County. Downstream of the county border, it passes through Oklahoma Campground and under Oklahoma Road (Forest Road 18), which then runs along the right. In the next stretch, the river receives Homes Creek from the left and Lusk Creek from the right. [7]

Klickitat County, Washington County in the United States

Klickitat County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,318. The county seat and largest city is Goldendale. The county is named after the Klickitat tribe of the Yakama Native Americans.

Skamania County, Washington County in the United States

Skamania County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,066. The county seat and largest incorporated city is Stevenson, although the Carson River Valley CDP is more populous. The county was founded in 1854 and derives its name from the Cascades Chinook word sk'mániak, meaning "swift waters".

Turning more sharply south, the river receives Berry Creek from the right, then passes under Oklahoma Road again before Cabbage Creek enters from the right. The road now runs along the left bank of the river as it meanders along the base of Shingle Mountain, which is to the river's right. In this stretch, Wilson Creek enters from the left before the river reaches Big Cedars County Park. Below the park, the river passes under Oklahoma Road again before flowing by Moss Creek Campground, on the river's right along the road. Below camp, Moss Creek enters from the right. [7]

Over the next stretch, the river reaches the community of Willard and leaves the national forest. Just below Willard, the river passes under Willard Road, and Pine Creek enters from the right. Slightly further downstream, the Little White Salmon passes the Willard National Fish Hatchery, on the right, flows under Cook–Underwood Road, enters the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and receives Lapham Creek from the left. In a narrow canyon paralleled by Cook–Underwood Road on both sides of the river for the next stretch, the stream receives Rock, Squaw, and Bunker creeks, all from the right. At the end of the canyon, the river passes through the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and enters Drano Lake, 163 miles (262 km) from the Columbia's mouth on the Pacific Ocean. [7]

Willard, Washington Unincorporated community in Washington, United States

Willard is a small unincorporated community in Skamania County, in southwestern Washington.

Columbia River Gorge river in the United States of America

The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep, the canyon stretches for over 80 miles (130 km) as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. Extending roughly from the confluence of the Columbia with the Deschutes River in the east down to the eastern reaches of the Portland metropolitan area, the water gap furnishes the only navigable route through the Cascades and the only water connection between the Columbia River Plateau and the Pacific Ocean. It is thus the route of Washington State Route 14, Interstate 84, U.S. Route 30, and railroad tracks on both sides.

Campgrounds

The United States Forest Service operates the Oklahoma Campground along upper Little White Salmon River. Amenities include 22 campsites, vault toilets, and potable water. [8] The Lower Monte Carlo Trailhead is across Oklahoma Road (Forest Road 18) from the campground. [9]

United States Forest Service federal forest and grassland administrators

The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres (780,000 km2). Major divisions of the agency include the National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, Business Operations, and the Research and Development branch. Managing approximately 25% of federal lands, it is the only major national land agency that is outside the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Further downstream, Skamania County manages the Big Cedars Campground, with two sites for tents and another for a small motorized camper. [10] Near the county park and on the opposite side of Oklahoma Road is Moss Creek Campground, run by the Forest Service. Amenities include potable water, vault toilets, and 17 campsites. [11]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Little White Salmon River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. September 10, 1979. Retrieved January 29, 2013. Source coordinates adjusted slightly with Google Earth.
  2. ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. 1 2 Washington Department of Wildlife; et al. (September 1, 1990). "Little White Salmon River Subbasin Salmon and Steelhead Production Plan" (PDF). Streamnet Library. United States Geological Survey. p. 5. Retrieved January 29, 2013..
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Volume II, Chapter 17: Little White Salmon Subbasin" (PDF). Northwest Power and Conservation Council. 2004. p. 1 (section 17). Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Giordano, Pete (2004). Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon's Rivers (4th ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers Books. pp. 265–66. ISBN   978-0-89886-815-9.
  6. ↑ Davidson, Nick (June 26, 2012). "Kayaker Dies on the Little White Salmon". Outside Online. Mariah Media Network. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 United States Geological Survey. "United States Topographic Map". TopoQuest. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Oklahoma Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Trailhead: Monte Carlo-Lower". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Big Cedars Campground". Skamania County. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Moss Creek Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 30, 2013.

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