Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge, near the mouth of the Columbia River, provides wintering and resting areas for an estimated 1,000 tundra swans, 5,000 geese, and 30,000 ducks. Other species include shorebirds and bald eagles.

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
LocationClatsop County, Oregon
Nearest cityAstoria
Coordinates46°12′59″N 123°38′04″W[1]
Area12,167 acres (4,924 ha)[2]
Established1972 (1972)
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteLewis and Clark NWR
Refuge map

Estuary waters provide vital food resources for juvenile salmon as they pause to become acclimated to salt water before entering the Pacific Ocean. Bald eagles are present year-round; there are 30 to 35 active nest sites.

Other fish species using the estuary include American shad, smelt, perch, starry flounder, bass, catfish, and Pacific lamprey. Harbor seals use sandbars and mud flats as resting sites at low tides, while seals and California sea lions feed on fish in the estuary. Beaver, raccoon, weasel, mink, muskrat, river otter, Columbian white-tailed deer and invasive nutria also live on the islands.

  • Aerial view of Lois Island
  • Aerial view of Russian Island
  • Aerial view of the Columbia River estuary including the refuge

References
  1. "Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Annual Report of Lands as of September 30, 2009" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge Profile". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"Kayaking Lewis and Clark Wildlife Refuge".



This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.