White Salmon River
| White Salmon River | |
 |
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Washington |
| County | Klickitat, Skamania |
| Source | Mount Adams Wilderness |
| - location | Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Klickitat County, Cascade Range |
| - elevation | 5,381 ft (1,640 m) [1] |
| - coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [2] |
| Mouth | Columbia River |
| - location | Columbia River Gorge near Underwood, Skamania County |
| - elevation | 79 ft (24 m) [2] |
| - coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [2] |
| Length | 44.3 mi (71 km) [3] |
| Basin | 400 sq mi (1,036 km2) [4] |
  Location of the mouth of the White Salmon River in Washington
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The White Salmon River is a 44-mile (71 km) tributary of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington.[3] Originating on the slopes of Mount Adams, it flows into the Columbia Gorge near the community of Underwood. Parts of the river have been designated Wild and Scenic. The principal tributaries of the White Salmon River include Trout Lake and Buck, Mill, Dry, Gilmer, and Rattlesnake Creeks.[5]
Contents
Wild and Scenic
In 1986, the lower White Salmon River was designated Wild and Scenic between Gilmer Creek and Buck Creek. In 2005, the upper river between the headwaters and the boundary of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest was added to the designation. The two reaches, which are not contiguous, total 27.7 miles (44.6 km), of which 6.7 miles (10.8 km) are "wild" and 22.3 miles (35.9 km) are "scenic."[4]
Recreation
The White Salmon River is used for whitewater boating nearly year-round. A popular spot to launch a raft or kayak is the public put-in at the unincorporated community of BZ Corner. The day-use area at the put-in includes parking, restrooms, and toilets. Guided whitewater trips can be arranged with commercial outfitters with special-use permits for the White Salmon.[4]
Condit Dam demolition
On October 26, 2011, the Condit Dam on the White Salmon River was intentionally breached as part of the dam's decommissioning by PacifiCorp. The breach allowed the river to flow unimpeded for the first time in nearly a century.[6]
See also
- List of Washington rivers
- List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers
- Condit Hydroelectric Project
- Tributaries of the Columbia River
References
- ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. River miles are marked and numbered on the relevant map quadrangles.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Dam-breaching video - YouTube
- Friends of the White Salmon
- Photo of the river below the dam
- USGS map of the area
- The White Salmon River Runs Free: Breaching the Condit Dam Documentary produced by Oregon Field Guide
- Geobox usage tracking for river type
- Rivers and streams of Washington (state)
- Columbia River Gorge
- Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States
- Mount Adams (Washington)
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Tributaries of the Columbia River
- Landforms of Klickitat County, Washington
- Landforms of Skamania County, Washington
