Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
LocationClark County, Washington, United States
Nearest cityWashougal, Washington
Coordinates45°34′02″N 122°18′14″W / 45.5673413°N 122.3039798°W / 45.5673413; -122.3039798[1]
Area1,049 acres (4.25 km2; 425 ha)
Established1987
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteOfficial website

The Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a 1,049-acre (4.25 km2; 425 ha) riverine flood plain habitat, semi-permanent wetland on the Columbia River, 10 miles (16 km) east of Vancouver, Washington, with cottonwood-dominated riparian corridors, pastures, and remnant stands of Oregon white oak. The largest wetland restoration project on the lower Columbia River involves removing about 2 miles (3.2 km) of levees separating the refuge from the river to restore 965 acres (391 ha) of floodplain habitat.[2]

The refuge lies partly within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and serves as the operational headquarters for the 329-acre (1.33 km2) Pierce National Wildlife Refuge. It has been designated as the site of the "Gateway to the Gorge" visitor center. This facility was completed in late 2022.[3] The Washington Department of Transportation has estimated that this facility may be used by as many as 100,000 visitors annually, providing the it with one of the best outreach opportunities in the Pacific Northwest.[citation needed]

References

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

  1. ^ "Steigerwald Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ Profita, Cassandra (November 26, 2021). "Restored wetland could become a place for tribes to harvest wapato". OPB News. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  3. ^ "Community Celebrates New Building at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". FWS.gov. 16 December 2022.
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