Lewis and Clark NWR

The broad estuary of the Columbia River, where the fresh water of the land mingles with the salt water of the ocean, has played a vital role in natural and human history for thousands of years.

As it nears the ocean, the slowing current deposits the river's silt load to form low, marshy islands and sandbars. Twice a day, the islands are part of the land, and twice they are reclaimed by the water where rising ocean tides slow the river's current. These estuary islands form a chain that begins just above Tongue Point and follows the Oregon shore of the main channel upriver to Tenasillahe Island. The Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 to preserve the estuary land and water as vital fish and wildlife habitat. The refuge includes 35,000 acres of islands, bars, mud flats and tidal marshes.

The refuge is the largest marsh in western Oregon and provides habitat for peak populations of 1,000 tundra swans, 5,000 Canada geese and 50,000 ducks in February and March each year as they gather here before the northward migration.

Lewis & Clark NWR entrance sign at low tide The Columbia River surrounding Lewis & Clark NWR is subject to large tidal swings. Because some of the lower islands can be entirely submerged at high tide, navigation can be challenging.

Lewis & Clark NWR
c/o JBH Refuge
P.O. Box 566
46 Steamboat Slough Road, Cathlamet, WA 98612
360-795-3915

Willapa NWR Complex Home
3888 SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624
360-484-3482

USFWS Links
USFWS Home Page | Pacific Region Home
Contact Us | Disclaimer / Copyrights | Section 508 Accessibility