Sandy River Delta

Protected area in Oregon, United States

Sandy River Delta

The Sandy River at the delta

Location of the natural area in Oregon

Location| Multnomah County, Oregon
Nearest city| Troutdale, Oregon
Coordinates| 45°33′11″N 122°22′01″W﻿ / ﻿45.55317°N 122.36689°W﻿ / 45.55317; -122.36689
Area| 1,400 acres (5.7 km2)
Established| 1991
Governing body| United States Forest Service

The Sandy River Delta is a natural area at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers in Oregon. Also known as "thousand acres", Sandy River Delta is composed of 1,400 acres administered by the United States Forest Service as part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near the Portland metro area and the city of Troutdale.

## History

[edit]

The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the area twice, in November 1805 and spring of 1806, noting abundant wildlife and stopping to hunt and gather food.[1] During most of the 20th century the land was owned privately as part of a cattle ranch, until the 1950s when a portion was acquired for the construction of Interstate 84, which now forms the southern boundary of the area.[2] The Forest Service acquired the remaining property north of I-84 in 1991.[3]

The area's management use plan has focused on low impact, non-motorized recreational use at the gateway to the Gorge, in addition to habitat restoration for native plants and wildlife.[4] A 1930s dike was removed in 2013 by the Corps of Engineers to restore the free flow of the river,[5] and efforts have been made to reduce the prevalence of invasive species like Himalayan blackberry and reed canarygrass.

## Facilities and recreation activities

[edit]

As the farthest northwestern edge of the Columbia Gorge scenic area, Sandy River Delta is a popular location for hiking, dog walking, horseback riding, and waterfowl hunting.[3] The 1.25 mile Confluence Trail is an ADA accessible trail that leads to a bird blind installed as part of the Confluence Project and designed by Maya Lin.[6]

Although off-leash dog walking is allowed (unlike in most of the Gorge), it is not a dog park, but rather a multi-use natural area; commercial dog walking is prohibited.[5] Waterfowl hunting via shotgun only is allowed north and east of the Bonneville Power Administration lines crossing the area.[7] The area is open dawn to dusk, with parking available for a fee or via recreation pass.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Calhoun, Larry. "Sandy River Delta". Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Experience. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
2. ^ Conference, Society for Ecological Restoration (1997). Wetland and Riparian Restoration: Taking a Broader View : Contributed Papers and Selected Abstracts, Society for Ecological Restoration International Conference, September 14-16, 1995, Seattle, Washington. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10.
3. ^ a b Romano, Craig (March 24, 2011). Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge: National Scenic Area/Silver Star Scenic Area/Portland--Vancouver to The Dalles. The Mountaineers Books. ISBN 978-1-59485-369-2.
4. ^ Sandy River Delta Plan EIS, Multnomah County: Environmental Impact Statement. 1995.
5. ^ a b Hale, Jamie (August 17, 2022). "Sandy River Delta is a park for people, playground for dogs near Columbia Gorge". The Oregonian.
6. ^ Cipolle, Alex V. (May 20, 2021). "Along the Columbia River, Making a Monument of the Land". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
7. ^ "Hunting at the Sandy River Delta – A Seasonal Reminder". fs.usda.gov. November 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022.
8. ^ "Sandy River Delta Fees". fs.usda.gov.

## External links

[edit]

* Sandy River Delta (United States Forest Service)
* Sandy River Delta (National Park Service)
* Confluence Project site description
* Friends of the Sandy River Delta

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of Oregon

Federal|

| National Estuarine Research Reserves|

* South Slough

|

National Forests|

* Deschutes
* Fremont–Winema
* Malheur
* Mount Hood
* Ochoco
* Rogue River–Siskiyou
* Siuslaw
* Umatilla
* Umpqua
* Wallowa–Whitman
* Willamette

National Grasslands|

* Crooked River

National Historic Sites and Historical Parks|

* Fort Vancouver
* Lewis and Clark
* Nez Perce

National Monuments|

* Cascade-Siskiyou
* John Day Fossil Beds
* Mount St. Helens Volcanic
* Newberry Volcanic
* Oregon Caves

National Parks|

* Crater Lake

National Recreation Areas|

* Hells Canyon
* Mount Hood
* Oregon Dunes

National Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* Big Marsh Creek
* Chetco River
* Clackamas River
* Clackamas River (South Fork)
* Collawash River
* Crescent Creek
* Crooked River (Oregon)
* Crooked River (North Fork)
* Deschutes River
* Donner und Blitzen River
* Elk Creek
* Elk River
* Elkhorn Creek
* Fifteenmile Creek
* Fish Creek
* Grande Ronde River
* Hood River (East Fork)
* Hood River (Middle Fork)
* Illinois River
* Imnaha River
* Jenny Creek
* John Day River
* John Day River (North Fork)
* John Day River (South Fork)
* Joseph Creek
* Klamath River
* Little Deschutes River
* Lostine River
* Malheur River
* Malheur River (North Fork)
* McKenzie River
* Metolius River
* Minam River
* Molalla River
* Nestucca River
* North Powder River
* North Umpqua River
* Owyhee River
* Owyhee River (North Fork)
* Powder River
* Quartzville Creek
* Roaring River
* Rogue River
* Salmon River
* Sandy River
* Smith River (North Fork)
* Sprague River
* Sycan River
* Wallowa River
* Wenaha River
* West Little Owyhee River
* White River
* Whychus Creek
* Wildhorse Creek
* Willamette River (North Fork of the Middle Fork)
* Zigzag River

National Wildlife Refuges|

* Ankeny
* Bandon Marsh
* Baskett Slough
* Bear Valley
* Cape Meares
* Cold Springs
* Deer Flat
* Hart Mountain
* Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
* Klamath Marsh
* Lewis and Clark
* Lower Klamath
* Malheur
* McKay Creek
* Nestucca Bay
* Oregon Islands
* Siletz Bay
* Three Arch Rocks
* Tualatin River
* Umatilla
* Upper Klamath
* Wapato Lake
* William L. Finley

Other|

* National Historic Landmarks
* National Natural Landmarks
* National Register of Historic Places
* Wilderness Areas

State|

| Parks|

| North
Coast|

* Arcadia Beach
* Bob Straub
* Bradley
* Cape Kiwanda
* Cape Lookout
* Cape Meares
* Clay Myers at Whalen Island
* Del Rey Beach
* Ecola
* Elmer Feldenheimer
* Fishing Rock
* Fort Stevens
* Gearhart Ocean
* Haystack Hill
* Hug Point
* John Yeon
* Manhattan Beach
* Munson Creek Falls
* Neahkahnie–Manzanita
* Nehalem Bay
* Oceanside Beach
* Oswald West
* Rockaway Beach
* Sunset Beach
* Sunset Highway Forest
* Sitka Sedge
* Symons
* Tolovana Beach
* Twin Rocks
* Wilson River Highway Forest

|

Central
Coast|

* Agate Beach
* Alsea Bay
* Beachside
* Beaver Creek
* Beverly Beach
* Boiler Bay
* Carl G. Washburne
* Collins Creek
* D River
* Darlingtonia
* Devils Lake
* Devils Punch Bowl
* Driftwood Beach
* Ellmaker
* Fogarty Creek
* Gleneden Beach
* Governor Patterson
* H.B. Van Duzer
* Heceta Head Lighthouse
* Jessie M. Honeyman
* Joaquin Miller Forest
* L. Presley & Vera C. Gill
* Lost Creek
* Muriel O. Ponsler
* Neptune
* Neskowin Beach
* Ona Beach
* Otter Crest
* Pritchard
* Roads End
* Rocky Creek
* San Marine
* Seal Rock
* Smelt Sands
* South Beach
* Stonefield Beach
* Tokatee Klootchman
* W. B. Nelson
* Whale Watching
* Yachats
* Yachats Ocean Road
* Yaquina Bay

South
Coast|

* Albert H. Powers
* Alfred A. Loeb
* Arizona Beach
* Bandon
* Bolon Island Tideways
* Bullards Beach
* Cape Arago
* Cape Blanco
* Cape Sebastian
* Conde B. McCullough
* Coquille Myrtle Grove
* Crissey Field
* Elk Creek Tunnel Forest
* Face Rock
* Floras Lake
* Geisel Monument
* Golden and Silver Falls
* Harris Beach
* Hoffman
* Humbug Mountain
* Hutchinson
* Lone Ranch
* Maria C. Jackson
* McVay Rock
* Ophir
* Otter Point
* Paradise Point
* Pistol River
* Port Orford Cedar Forest
* Port Orford Heads
* Samuel H. Boardman
* Seven Devils
* Shore Acres
* Sisters Rock
* Sunset Bay
* Sweet Myrtle
* Umpqua
* Umpqua Lighthouse
* Umpqua Myrtle
* William M. Tugman
* Winchuck
* Yoakam Point

Portland
Metro|

* Banks–Vernonia
* Bonnie Lure
* Forest Park
* Government Island
* L. L. "Stub" Stewart
* Mary S. Young
* Milo McIver
* Tryon Creek
* Willamette Stone

Columbia
River Gorge/
Mount Hood|

* Ainsworth
* Benson
* Bonneville
* Bridal Veil Falls
* Crown Point
* Dabney
* Dalton Point
* George W. Joseph
* Guy W. Talbot
* Historic Columbia River Highway
* John B. Yeon
* Koberg Beach
* Lang Forest
* Lewis and Clark
* Lindsey Creek
* Mayer
* McLoughlin
* Memaloose
* Multnomah Falls
* Portland Women's Forum
* Rocky Butte
* Rooster Rock
* Seneca Fouts
* Shepperd's Dell
* Sheridan
* Starvation Creek
* Viento
* Vinzenz Lausmann
* Wyeth
* Wygant

Willamette
Valley|

* Alderwood
* Bald Peak
* Blachly Mountain Forest
* Bowers Rock
* Cascadia
* Champoeg
* Detroit Lake
* Dexter
* Elijah Bristow
* Erratic Rock
* Fall Creek
* Fort Yamhill
* Holman
* Jasper
* Lowell
* Luckiamute
* Maples
* Maud Williamson
* Molalla River
* North Santiam
* Sarah Helmick
* Silver Falls
* State Capitol
* Thompson's Mills
* Washburne
* Willamette Mission
* Willamette Greenway

Southern
Oregon|

* Ben Hur Lampman
* Canyon Creek Forest
* Casey
* Collier Memorial
* Illinois River Forks
* Jackson F. Kimball
* Joseph H. Stewart
* Klamath Falls – Lakeview Forest
* OC&E Woods Line
* Prospect
* Rough and Ready Forest
* Stage Coach Forest
* TouVelle
* Tub Springs
* Valley of the Rogue
* Wolf Creek Inn

Central
Oregon|

*   * Cline Falls
* Cottonwood Canyon
* Deschutes River
* Dyer
* Elliott Corbett
* La Pine
* Ochoco
* Peter Skene Ogden
* Pilot Butte
* Prineville Reservoir
* Redmond–Bend Juniper
* Sisters
* Smith Rock
* The Cove Palisades
* Tumalo
* White River Falls

Eastern
Oregon|

* Bates
* Battle Mountain Forest
* Blue Mountain Forest
* Booth
* Catherine Creek
* Chandler
* Clyde Holliday
* Crooked Creek
* Deadman's Pass
* Emigrant Springs
* Farewell Bend
* Fort Rock
* Fort Rock Cave
* Frenchglen Hotel
* Goose Lake
* Hat Rock
* Hilgard Junction
* Kam Wah Chung
* Lake Owyhee
* Minam
* Ontario
* Pete French Round Barn
* Red Bridge
* Succor Creek
* Sumpter Valley Dredge
* Ukiah–Dale Forest
* Unity Forest
* Unity Lake
* Wallowa Lake
* Wallowa Lake Highway Forest
* Wallowa River

Forests|

* Clatsop
* Elliott
* Gilchrist
* Santiam
* Sun Pass
* Tillamook

Wildlife
areas|

* Bridge Creek
* Dean Creek
* Denman
* E. E. Wilson
* Elkhorn
* Fern Ridge
* Irrigon
* Jewell Meadows
* Klamath
* Ladd Marsh
* Lower Deschutes
* Phillip W. Schneider
* Prineville
* Riverside
* Sauvie Island
* Snake River Islands
* Summer Lake
* Wenaha
* White River
* Willow Creek

Local|

| Metro|

* Blue Lake
* Cooper Mountain
* Glendoveer
* Graham Oaks
* Howell
* Oregon Zoo
* Oxbow
* Quamash Prairie
* Smith and Bybee
* Mount Talbert

|

Tualatin Hills Park and
Recreation District|

* Tualatin Hills Nature Park

* Category
* Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
* Portland
* Commons

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