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Middle Columbia-Hood
This section is for reference only. The sign-up period for this watershed has closed.

Description of Watershed

The Mid Columbia-Hood River Watershed includes land in Oregon and Washington that drains directly into the Columbia River beginning generally, at the Bonneville Dam and moving eastwards to the John Day Dam.

The Mid Columbia-Hood River Watershed was created near the end of the Ice Age when Lake Missoula’s glacial dam broke, creating flooding and sediment deposits from Montana to the Pacific Ocean. As a result, the watershed is made up of shallow to very deep well drained silt loam soils creating an environment that is prone to wind and water soil erosion.

The Hood River and several creeks flow through the watershed and into the Columbia River creating habitat for three ESA-listed species including salmon, steelhead and bald eagles. Much of the western portion is forested public lands, while the remainder is rangelands, irrigated orchards or pastures and dryland wheat. Irrigated orchards and pastures are predominately located in the Hood River Valley and The Dalles area adjacent to the Columbia River.

The Mid Columbia-Hood River Watershed does include ceded lands of the Yakama and Confederated Tribes of Warms Springs Nations.


Map of Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed
 

map that locates watershed in the state close up view of watershed area

Counties in Watershed

Washington Counties

  • Klickitat
  • Skamania
  • Yakima

Oregon Counties

  • Sherman
  • Hood River                                                     
  • Wasco
     

Land Cover/Use

Land Use

Washington

Oregon

Total Acres

Cropland

192,900

665,000

858,300

Pasture

1,300

22,800

24,100

Forest

0

31,300

31,300

Rangeland

5,600

37,400

43,000

Total Private Land

1,600

18,600

20,200

Total Federal Land

8,200

28,100

36,300

Tribal Land

209,600

803,600

1,013,200


For General and Application Information, visit our national NRCS CSP home page.

Visit the Oregon State web page for additional information regarding their portion of the Mid-Columbia/Hood River Watershed.
 

Washington State NRCS Informational Materials
Adobe Acrobat DocumentMiddle Columbia-Hood Watershed CSP Eligibility, Qualification and Application Steps  
(.PDF file 190 KB)
 

Adobe Acrobat DocumentPDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Click to download a copy.

 

Program Contacts - Washington

Ross Lahren
Asst. State Conservationist for Programs
USDA  - Natural Resources Conservation Service
316 W. Boone Ave  Suite 450
Spokane, WA  99201
509.323.2971

Chris Johnson
District Conservationist
Zillah USDA Service Center
Phone:  (509) 829-3003 Ext. 108
Fax:      (509) 829-3349
200 Cheyne Road
Zillah, WA  98953




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