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American Bittern, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington.
River "S" Unit.
Image taken September 10, 2014.
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Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge ...
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The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is located on the shore of the Lower Columbia River, 10 miles downstream from
Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, with the headquarters being located in Ridgefield, Washington.
It is bordered on the east by Lake River and on the west by the Columbia. Sections of the Refuge reach as far south as Vancouver Lake.
The Ridgefield Refuge was established in 1965 in response to a need to establish winter habitat for the dusky Canada Goose whose nesting areas in Alaska were severly impacted by the violent earthquake of 1964. The refuge covers over 5,000 acres of flood plain habitat, seasonal and permanent wetlands, and agricultural lands.
Ridgefield NWR is part of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which also includes nearby Steigerwald Lake NWR, and three other Refuges further up the Columbia River Gorge.
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Canada Geese, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington.
River "S" Unit.
Image taken February 10, 2013.
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Dusky Canada Goose, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken November 4, 2009.
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Sunset, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken December 14, 2012.
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Ridgefield NWR Units ...
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The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of five units -- by acquisition date they are
the
River "S" Unit,
the
Carty Unit,
the Roth Unit,
the
Bachelor Island Unit,
and
the
Ridgeport Diary Unit.
River "S" Unit:
On May 18, 1965, the River "S" Unit became the first property acquired in the Ridgefield Refuge. This property had historically been a cattle ranch, with extensive improved and canarygrass pastures. The River "S" Unit has a popular 4.2 mile auto tour route and 1.2 mile seasonal hiking trail. This unit and the Bachelor Island unit are managed to maximize habitat for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.
[More]
Carty Unit:
The Carty Unit was acquired in 1966 and this area had also been used primarily for grazing. This Unit was named after the principle settler and landowner, James Carty.
The Carty unit has a 2-mile self guided hiking trail, and has preservation of the natural Columbia River floodplain as its goal. A historic Cathlapotle townsite, which was visited by Lewis and Clark in 1806, is included in the Carty Unit.
Lewis and Clark, on their voyage down the Columbia River in 1805, identified a large Chinook village ("Cathlapotle") located at the confluence of the
Columbia River,
Lake River and the
Lewis River. Lewis and Clark estimated that 900 inhabitants lived at the village. On March 29, 1806, they returned to trade and visit with them, and camped in a meadow ("Wapato Portage") one mile upstream of the village.
In 2005 a replica of a Cathlapotle Plankhouse was finished in the Carty Unit.
[More]
Roth Unit:
The Roth Unit was acquired from Rosa Roth in 1969 and 1970 and has preservation of the natural Columbia River floodplain as its goal. The Roth Unit includes the upper half of Campbell Lake, a popular wintering spot for Sandhill Cranes.
[More]
Bachelor Island Unit:
In 1985 the Bachelor Island Unit was purchased from the Zimmerly family. The Bachelor Island Unit is managed to maximize habitat for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.
The Bachelor Island Unit is accessible only by boat and is closed to the public during the winter.
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Ridgeport Dairy Unit:
The Ridgeport Dairy Unit is the southernmost unit in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, and contains
Post Office Lake, the location of Lewis and Clark's camp of November 4, 1805.
Areas in the Ridgeport Dairy Unit were purchased between 1991 and 1995, with the last section between Campbell Lake and Lake River acquired in 2007. As with the Carty and Roth Units, the Ridgeport Dairy Unit has preservation of the natural Columbia River floodplain as its goal.
Views of Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Jefferson can be seen along this reach. Sauvie Island, Oregon extends the entire length running down the Oregon side of the Columbia River.
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Lewis and Clark and the Ridgefield NWR ...
Campsite of November 4, 1805 ...
Lewis and Clark camped twice in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The first was on their journey to the Pacific. On November 4, 1805 the men camped in the
Post Office Lake area in the southern part of the Ridgefield Refuge. Their camp was just north of today's Post Office Lake, a location so teaming with waterfowl that Captain Clark wrote the following morning that
"... I could not Sleep for the noise kept by the Swans, Geese, white & black brant, Ducks &c. on a opposit base, & Sand hill Crane, they were emensely numerous and their noise horrid. ..."
[Clark, November 5, 1805, first draft]
[More]
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Geese, Post Office Lake, Ridgeport Dairy Unit, Ridgefield NWR, Ridgefield, Washington.
Image taken January 30, 2005.
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"... I could not Sleep for the noise kept by the Swans, Geese, white & black brant, Ducks &c. on a opposit base, & Sand hill Crane, they were emensely numerous and their noise horrid. ..."
[Clark, November 5, 1805, first draft]
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Campsite of March 29, 1806 ...
Lewis and Clark, on their voyage down the Columbia River in 1805, identified a large Chinook village ("Cathlapotle") located at the confluence of the
Columbia River,
Lake River and the
Lewis River.
Lewis and Clark estimated that 900 inhabitants lived at the village. On March 29, 1806, they returned to trade and visit with them, and camped in a meadow ("Wapato Portage") one mile upstream of the village.
[More]
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Long Meadow, south section looking south, Carty Unit, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
View south taken from the approximate location of Wapato Portage.
Carty Lake (not visible in image) is on the left and the community of Ridgefield can be seen in the distance.
Image taken October 9, 2014.
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Views ...
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River "S" Unit ... Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken November 25, 2006.
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River "S" Unit ... Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken December 11, 2011.
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River "S" Unit ... Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken November 25, 2006.
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River "S" Unit ... Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken December 30, 2006.
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River "S" Unit ... Great Blue Heron, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken December 30, 2006.
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River "S" Unit ... Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken December 30, 2006.
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River "S" Unit ... Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Image taken December 30, 2006.
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Carty Unit ... Oregon White Oak, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
This oak is located on the basalt bluff above the Columbia, in the Carty Unit.
Image taken April 27, 2005.
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Carty Unit ... A meadow "near the village", Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, Cathlapotle area.
A section of Carty Lake is in the background.
Image taken September 13, 2003.
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Carty Unit ... New Cathlapotle Plankhouse to be built in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Carty Unit.
Duck Lake is in the background.
Image taken September 13, 2003.
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Carty Unit ... Cathlapotle Plankhouse, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
Image taken, April 27, 2005.
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Duck Lake, Carty Unit, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
Image taken August 24, 2013.
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Ridgefield Dairy Unit ... Post Office Lake and Mount Hood, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Mount Hood, Oregon, in the background.
Image taken July 2, 2003.
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Roth Unit ... Sandhill Cranes in the Campbell Lake area, Roth Unit, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
Ridgefield NWR Refuge "Sandhill Crane Tour".
Image taken October 12, 2007.
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Red-tailed Hawk, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken December 14, 2012.
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Great Egret, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington.
River "S" Unit.
Image taken August 8, 2015.
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Tundra Swans, Ridgefield NWR, Ridgefield, Washington.
River "S" Unit.
Image taken December 28, 2009.
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Bald Eagle, Ridgefield NWR, Ridgefield, Washington.
River "S" Unit.
Image taken February 2, 2012.
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Ring-necked Duck, male, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken April 26, 2008.
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Cinnamon Teal, male, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken May 3, 2011.
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Harris's Sparrow, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington.
River "S" Unit.
Image taken November 9, 2017.
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Yellow Warbler, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington.
River "S" Unit.
Image taken May 28, 2013.
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Skip to my Refuge website ...
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 4, 1805 ...
Clark, November 5, 1805, first draft ...
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a Cloudy morning Som rain the after part of last night & this morning. I could not Sleep for the noise kept by the Swans, Geese, white & black brant, Ducks &c. on a opposit base, & Sand hill Crane, they were emensely numerous and their noise horrid [today this location is Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge]
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Clark, November 5, 1805 ...
Clark, March 30, 1806 ...
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