The Columbia River - Burke Island and Martin Island, Washington

Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later"
"Burke Island, Burke Slough, Martin Island, Martin Slough, Washington"

Includes ... Burke Island ... Burke Slough ... Martin Island ... Martin Slough ... Martin Island Lagoon ... "Urry's Islands" ... "Paia Island" ... "Smoke Island" ...

Image, 2004, Martin Island, Washington, click to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Martin Island and Lagoon, Washington. View shows Martin Slough, Martin Island, Lagoon, Martin Island, Columbia River, Goat Island, and the Oregon banks of the Columbia River. From above Interstate 5 on the Washington side of the Columbia. Image taken April 9, 2004.

Burke and Martin Islands and Sloughs ...

Burke Island and Martin Island are two islands on the Washington side of the Columbia River, stretching from River Mile (RM) 79.5 to RM 82.5. Excellent views of the islands can be seen from Interstate 5. Burke Island is the upstream of the two islands and is separated from the Washington shore and the Lewis River floodplain by Burke Slough, and from Martin Island on the north by Martin Slough. The Lewis River merges with the Columbia 5 miles upstream of Martin and Burke, and the Kalama River lies approximately 6 miles downstream of the islands. Immediately downstream is Martin Bluff overlooking the islands. On the Oregon side of the Columbia River, directly across from Martin and Burke Islands, is Deer Island and Goat Island.

Early Martin Island and Burke Island ...

Burke Island was named after an early resident, James A. Burke. Martin Island was named for a William S. (or William H.) Martin, a pioneer who settled on the adjacent mainland. For more information please see Martin Bluff.

In 1792 Lieutenant Broughton of the Captain George Vancouver Expedition, called these two islands "Urry's Islands".

"... two small woody islands, on one which was a grove of tall and strait poplars. These were distinguished by the name of Urry's Islands. ..." [Vancouver, October 28, 1792]

Lewis and Clark passed through this area on November 5, 1805, before stopping near Prescott Beach for the night. On their return they came through the area on March 28 and 29, 1806.

"... 2 Small Islands, below, here we met 2 canoes from below,- below those Islands a range of high hills form the Stard. Bank of the river, the Shore bold and rockey, Covered with a thick groth of Pine ..." [Clark, November 5, 1805]

In 1841, Wilkes, of the U.S. Exploring Expedition called Burke Island "Paia Island", and Martin Island "Smoke Island".

The 1854 cadastral survey (tax survey) for T5N R1W shows a "Martin" farming the southermost tip of what is today's Martin Island.

The 1888 U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Navigation Chart, "Columbia River, Sheet No.5, Kalama to Fales Landing", shows the islands as "Martin I." and Burke's I.". "Burke's Slough" separates Burke Island from the Washington shore, and "Martin Slough" separates the two islands. "Martin Bluff" is downstream of Martin Island.

In 1891 the U.S. Board of Geographic Names made official "Martin Island" and in 1915 they made official "Burke Island" and "Burke Slough". Other names in use were "Martin's Island" and "Burkes Island".

Martin Slough and Burke Slough in 1942 ...

From the NOAA "Coast Pilot" of 1942:

"Martin Slough, between Martin Island and Burke Island and the Washington shore, is used in log rafting operations. Burke Slough between Burke Island and the Washington shore is also used for that purpose."

Views ...

Click image to enlarge	Descending Martin Bluff with Martin Island and the Columbia River. View from Interstate 5 heading south looking towards the Columbia River with Martin Island on the right. Image taken December 2, 2006.
Click image to enlarge	Burke and Martin Islands and Sloughs, Washington. View shows Interstate 5, and from left to right: Washington mainland (Lewis River floodplain), Burke Slough, Burke Island, Martin Slough, and Martin Island. View from above Interstate 5 on the Washington side of the Columbia. Image taken April 9, 2004.
Click image to enlarge	Burke Slough. View from Dike Road, Woodland, Washington. Image taken November 9, 2015.
Click image to enlarge	Burke Island and Burke Slough reflections. View from Dike Road, Woodland, Washington. Image taken March 4, 2007.
Click image to enlarge	Burke Slough, looking upstream. View from Dike Road, Woodland, Washington. Burke Island is on the right. Image taken March 4, 2007.
Click image to enlarge	Burke Island and Burke Slough. View from Dike Road, Woodland, Washington. Image taken July 24, 2005.
Click image to enlarge	Burke Island. View from Dike Road, Woodland, Washington. Burke Slough is in the foreground. Image taken July 24, 2005.

From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...

Clark, November 5, 1805 ...

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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:

Hitchman, R., 1985, Place Names of Washington, Washington State Historical Society;
NOAA Office of Coast Survey website, 2005, 2006;
U.S. Bureau of Land Management website, 2006, General Land Office Records (GLO);
U.S. Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database, 2006;

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.

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September 2008