Lewis and Clark's Columbia River - Smith and Bybee Lakes, Oregon

Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later"
"Smith and Bybee Lakes, Oregon"

Includes ... Smith and Bybee Lakes ... Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area ... Smith Lake ... Bybee Lake ... "Ramsey's Lake" ...

Image, 2008, Smith Lake, Oregon, click to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area canoe launch. Image taken September 14, 2008.

Smith and Bybee Lakes ...

Smith and Bybee Lakes are two wetland areas located within Portland, Oregon, which are being revived to their natural state. A new 30-foot-high water control structure was built in 2003. Once part of a landfill, the area now is being returned to sloughs, wetlands, and forests. Wapato, once plentiful and considered a main food source by the Indian tribes along the lower Columbia, is making a comeback.

"... These first-year results confirm that the water management plan is headed in the right direction. Metro uses the water control structure to hold as much water as possible during winter and spring. During these months, the flooded wetlands provide habitat for waterfowl and young salmon. The high water levels also inhibit reed canarygrass, a dangerous invasive plant that typically starts growing in early spring. The annual drawdown begins in June, after salmon have left the system, and lasts through most of the summer. As water slowly recedes, native wetland plants appear on the mudflats, growing and blooming quickly before fall’s cool weather. After drawdown, the structure is left open and water flows into and out of Bybee Lake with the tides. Smith Lake is separated from Bybee Lake and the structure by a meandering channel, so it has more consistent water levels in late summer and fall. ..." [Portland Metro-Region Website, 2006]

"... The area is returning to the extensive network of sloughs, wetlands and forests that formerly existed at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. To better reflect the nature of the site, the natural area has been renamed Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area. ..." [Portland Metro-Region Website, 2006]

The two lakes, while surrounded by commerce and industry, are generally bordered by the Columbia Slough on the south, Kelley Point on the west, the Vanport Wetlands on the east, and the Columbia River on the north.

Click image to enlarge	California Poppies, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area canoe launch. Image taken September 14, 2008.
Click image to enlarge	Nodding Beggar Ticks, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area canoe launch. Image taken September 14, 2008.

Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area ...

The Smith and Bybee Lakes Wetlands Natural Area is the largest protected wetlands within an American city, covering nearly 2,000 acres. Wildlife viewing opportunities include beaver, river otter, black-tailed deer, osprey, bald eagles and Western painted turtles. The wildlife area includes a paved, accessible trail, two wildlife viewing platforms, a canoe launching area, restrooms, interpretive displays, covered shelter, parking, and "environmental art" (see more below).

Smith Lake, February 2006 ...

Click image to enlarge	Smith Lake, Oregon, Sunset. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 4, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Canoe at Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Canoe Landing at Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Reeds near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.

Bybee Lake, August 2007 ...

Click image to enlarge	Bird Blind, Bybee Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area bird blind. Image taken August 23, 2007.
Click image to enlarge	Great Egrets, Bybee Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area bird blind. Image taken August 23, 2007.
Click image to enlarge	Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons, Bybee Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area bird blind. Image taken August 23, 2007.

Early Smith and Bybee Lakes ...

Smith Lake was named for ???

According to Oregon Geographic Names (McArthur and McArthur, 2004), Bybee Lake was named for James Bybee who settled in 1853 on property which included most of the lake. James Bybee (and not nearby settler James F. Bybee) was granted title to the property in November 1859 (Land Office certificate #2234).

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (GLO) Website (2007) has a listing for James Bybee (#2234) being granted title on August 5, 1871, for 313.52 acres of T2N R1E Sections 30 and 31, through the 1850 Oregon Donation Act.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (GLO) Website (2007) also has a listing for William Bybee (#3339) being granted title on June 13, 1873, for 320.15 acres of T2N R1W Sections 24 and 25 through the 1850 Oregon Donation Act.

Today's Bybee Lake stretches northwest to southeast and occupies a large portion of T2N R1W Section 25, and T2N R1E Section 31. Smith Lake occupies a large portion of T2N R1E Sections 31 and 32.

The 1862 cadastral survey map (tax survey) for T2N R1W shows a "Wm. Bybee" claim (Claim No.44) of 246.80 acres in Section 25.

The 1888 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey's Chart "Columbia River, Sheet No.6, Fales Landing to Portland" have Smith and Bybee Lakes depicted but not named.

The 1947 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey's Topo Map "Portland No.11" (1:9600) has Smith and Bybee Lakes named.

Today Bybee Lake is north and west of Smith Lake. The Columbia Slough is on the south and west borders, with the North Portland Harbor to the north and east.

Slough near Bybee Lake ...

Click image to enlarge	Slough near Bybee Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken August 23, 2007.
Click image to enlarge	Reflections, Slough near Bybee Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken August 23, 2007.
Click image to enlarge	Reflections "Abstract", Slough near Bybee Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken August 23, 2007.
Click image to enlarge	Duck, Slough near Bybee Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken August 23, 2007.

"Environmental Art" ...

Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area is home to a Portland Public Art display designed by artists Valerie Otani and Fernanda D'Agostina. Pieces of sculpture - "Ecology Stones" - look like seedpods, skulls, flower buds, diatoms, native tools, and even a turtle egg embryo. In addition, seven wooden pole sculptures - "Habitat Trees" - resembling snag trees are located throughout the area. These provide perches and nesting sites for swallows, purple martins, bats, owls, and other wildlife.

Click image to enlarge	Freshwater Mussel, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Parking area, Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Shell Sculpture, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Closeup, Shell, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Sculptures, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Skull Sculpture, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Sculpture, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Sculpture, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Sculpture, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Two Sculptures, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Sculpture, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Closeup, Sculpture, near Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.

Basalt Canoes ...

Located near the edge of Smith Lake are two sculpted Chinook dugout canoes, carved from pieces of columnar basalt.

Click image to enlarge

Basalt Canoes, Smith Lake, Oregon. Smith Lake is in the background. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.

"Snag Art" ...

Seven sculpted wooden poles resembling snag trees can be found in the Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area. The "Habitat Trees" are designed to provide perches and nesting sites for swallows, purple martins, bats, owls and other wildlife.

Click image to enlarge	Snag at Canoe Launch, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 4, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Snag Birdhouses, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Snags, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Snag Birdhouse, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Snag Section, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Snag Wing, Smith Lake, Oregon. View from the Smith and Bybee Lake Wildlife Area. Image taken February 5, 2006.

From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...

Clark, ...

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^*River Miles [RM] are approximate, in statute miles, and were determined from USGS topo maps, obtained from NOAA nautical charts, or obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Website, 2003

Sources: McArthur, L.A., and McArthur, L.L., 2003, Oregon Geographic Names, Oregon Historical Society Press, Portland; NOAA Office of Coast Survey Website, 2006; Portland's Metro-Region Website, 2006; Portland's Regional Arts and Culture Council Website, 2006; U.S. Bureau of Land Management Website, 2007; U.S. Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (GLO) Website, 2007;

All Lewis and Clark quotations from Gary Moulton editions of the Lewis and Clark Journals, University of Nebraska Press, all attempts have been made to type the quotations exactly as in the Moulton editions, however typing errors introduced by this web author cannot be ruled out; location interpretation from variety of sources, including this website author.