Washougal River
{{Infobox river
| name = Washougal River
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| image = BridgeOverWashougalRiver.jpg
| image_size = 300
| image_caption = Flowing under a bridge
| map =
| map_size = 300
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Washington#USA
| pushpin_map_size = 300
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of Washougal River in Washington
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Washington
| subdivision_type3 =
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| subdivision_type4 = County
| subdivision_name4 = Clark, Skamania
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| length = {{convert|33|mi|km|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Washougal River Watershed|url=http://www.co.clark.wa.us/water-resources/documents/Stream%20Health%20Report/Washougal.pdf|publisher=Clark County|accessdate=January 22, 2013}}
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| discharge1_avg = {{convert|873|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}{{cite web|last=Byrne|first=Jim|title=Washougal Subbasin Summary (Draft)|url=http://www.cbfwa.org/FWProgram/ReviewCycle/fy2003lc/workplan/020517Washougal.pdf|publisher=Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority|date=May 17, 2002|page=1|accessdate=January 22, 2013|display-authors=etal}} The maximum discharge was recorded during the flood of December 1977.
| discharge1_max = {{convert|40400|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| source1 = near McKinley Ridge and Lookout Mountain
| source1_location = Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Skamania County
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|45|47|27|N|122|08|55|W|display=inline}}{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) | publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = September 10, 1979 | url ={{Gnis3|1527838}} | title = Washougal River|accessdate=January 22, 2013}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|2761|ft|abbr=on}}Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
| mouth = Columbia River
| mouth_location = Washougal and Camas, Clark County
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|45|34|43|N|122|24|00|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|10|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression =
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| basin_size = {{convert|212|sqmi|abbr=on}}
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The Washougal River is a {{convert|33|mi|km|adj=on}} tributary of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Its headwaters and upper {{convert|21|mi|km}} are in Skamania County in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and its lower {{convert|12|mi|km}} are in Clark County. The river, which flows through the city of Washougal and meets the Columbia at the City of Camas, is a popular stream for fishing, swimming, and boating.
Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark referred to the Washougal River as the "Seal River." The name Washougal comes from the Cascades Chinook placename [wasiixwal] or [wasuxal],{{cite book|last=Bright|first=William|authorlink=William Bright|title=Native American placenames of the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5XfxzCm1qa4C&pg=PA576|accessdate=6 April 2011|year=2004|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-3598-4|page=550}} meaning "rushing water".{{Cite book| last = Majors | first = Harry M. | title = Exploring Washington | publisher = Van Winkle Publishing Co | year = 1975 | page = 147|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ| isbn = 978-0-918664-00-6}}
Watershed
The Washougal River drains {{convert|212|mi2|km2}} of land that is largely forested, especially in its upper reaches in the Cascade Range and its foothills. Of the total, {{convert|162|mi2|km2}} are in Skamania County, and the remaining {{convert|50|mi2|km2}} are in Clark County. Small farms and rural homes are found along the lower part of the basin, and two small Clark County cities, Camas and Washougal, are at the river mouth. About 63 percent of the watershed is forested; 21 percent is devoted to fields, pastures, bare earth, and shrubland, and 16 percent is developed or cleared for development.
The water quality of surface streams in the basin is rated "excellent" to "good", with a few exceptions. State and county officials monitor the lower reaches of the river for signs of trouble such as harmful bacteria, elevated water temperatures, and bank erosion related to forest clearing and other development. Two of the river's tributaries, Jones Creek and Boulder Creek, supply drinking water to Camas.The Washougal River, which has no dams on the main stem, has one dam (Kwoneesum Dam) on Wildboy Creek, which is a tributary to the West Fork. Kwoneesum Dam forms a recreational-purpose reservoir for Camp Kwoneesum.{{cite journal |last1=Department of Ecology |first1=Washington State |title=Inventory of Dams Report for Selected Washington Counties and Selected Dam Hazard Categories |journal=Water Resources Program Dam Safety Office |date=11 September 2020 |volume=94-16 |issue=#94–16 |pages=129}}
Recreation
The Washougal River contains significant fisheries: the main stem and some of the tributaries support populations of Chinook, chum, and Coho salmon, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout. Dougan Falls, {{convert|21|mi|km}} from the mouth, blocks most fish migration beyond the waterfall. The Washougal River Greenway in Camas has fishing access, a short walking trail, a boat launch, and picnic sites.{{cite web|title=Washougal River Greenway|url=http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/parks_trails/parks/washougalriver.asp|publisher=Vancouver – Clark Parks & Recreation|accessdate=January 22, 2013}} Much of the recreation access, including Dougan Falls, now requires a Discover Pass, Washington state's recreation fee pass.{{cite web|url=http://discoverpass.wa.gov/| access-date=2023-11-11 | title=Discover Pass, your ticket to Washington's great outdoors}} A separate parking pass is required for Naked Falls, which is on private land and was closed to the public for several years but has now reopened.{{cite web |url=https://nakedfalls.com/ |title=Naked Falls {{!}} Pure River Experience |website=nakedfalls.com |access-date=March 11, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/washington/swimming-holes-cliff-jumping/naked-falls-washougal-river|title=Naked Falls on the Washougal River}}
A series of waterfalls, some of them associated with swimming holes, are found along the main stream.{{cite book|last=Plumb|first=Gregory A.|title=Waterfall Lovers Guide: Pacific Northwest|year=2005|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|location=Seattle|pages=180–82|edition=4th|isbn=0-89886-911-0}} From lowermost to uppermost, the named falls include Salmon, Dougan, Naked, Reeder, Stebbins Creek, and Docs Drop. Dougan Falls is a total of {{convert|30|ft|m}} high{{cite book|last=Anderson|first=David L.|title=Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest|pages=78–79|publisher=The Countryman Press|location=Woodstock, Vermont|isbn=978-0-88150-713-3|date=2007-05-29}} and the largest drop is {{convert|19|ft|m}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Dougan-Falls-5198|title=Dougan Falls - Northwest Waterfall Survey}}
Whitewater enthusiasts run parts of the Washougal River and some of its tributaries. The runs include many stretches rated 4, 5, or 5+ on the International Scale of River Difficulty.{{cite book|last=Giordano|first=Pete|title=Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon's Rivers|edition=4th|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|location=Seattle|pages=272–80|isbn=978-0-89886-815-9|year=2004}}
See also
References
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Category:Rivers of Washington (state)
Category:Rivers of Clark County, Washington