Pierce National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Pierce National Wildlife Refuge is located in southwest Washington within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It encompasses wetlands and uplands along the north shore of the Columbia River
west of the town of North Bonneville
. Refuge habitats include wetland
s, Columbia River
riparian corridor blocks, transitional woodland
s from willow
s to cottonwood/ash to white oak
to Douglas fir, improved pastures with some native grasses, and numerous creeks, seeps, and springs.
Hardy Creek, which bisects the refuge from east to west, supports one of the last remaining runs of chum salmon
on the Columbia River. In addition to chum salmon, the creek also supports small remnant runs of Coho
, steelhead and Chinook salmon
as well as a variety of native species of freshwater fish. The refuge headquarters also serves as main office for Steigerwald Lake
and Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge
s. Current visitor opportunities are limited to arranged group tours and viewing from the summit of Beacon Rock and the Hamilton Mountain Trail (both located in Beacon Rock State Park
).
Columbia River
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, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
west of the town of North Bonneville
North Bonneville, Washington
North Bonneville is a city in Skamania County, Washington, United States. The population was 593 at the 2000 census and 956 at the 2010 census.-Geography:North Bonneville is located at ....
. Refuge habitats include wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s, Columbia River
Columbia River
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, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
riparian corridor blocks, transitional woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s from willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
s to cottonwood/ash to white oak
White oak
Quercus alba, the white oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak of the Fagaceae family, native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been...
to Douglas fir, improved pastures with some native grasses, and numerous creeks, seeps, and springs.
Hardy Creek, which bisects the refuge from east to west, supports one of the last remaining runs of chum salmon
Chum salmon
The chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is a Pacific salmon, and may also be known as dog salmon or Keta salmon, and is often marketed under the name Silverbrite salmon...
on the Columbia River. In addition to chum salmon, the creek also supports small remnant runs of Coho
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, steelhead and Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
as well as a variety of native species of freshwater fish. The refuge headquarters also serves as main office for Steigerwald Lake
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Located on the Columbia River, east of Vancouver, Washington, the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge consists of historic riverine flood plain habitat, semi-permanent wetlands, cottonwood-dominated riparian corridors, pastures, and remnant stands of Oregon white oak.The refuge lies partly...
and Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in southwest Washington State, within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The refuge provides a variety of habitats including riparian wetlands, Columbia River riparian corridor blocks, transitional woodlands from lower elevation willows,...
s. Current visitor opportunities are limited to arranged group tours and viewing from the summit of Beacon Rock and the Hamilton Mountain Trail (both located in Beacon Rock State Park
Beacon Rock State Park
Beacon Rock State Park is a state park of Washington, USA, in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, on State Route 14 about east of Vancouver, Washington....
).