Columbia Basin
Few natural wetlands remain in this ecoregion.
Historic wetlands along the Columbia River have been inundated
by reservoirs, while the floodplains wetlands along the Umatilla
and Walla Walla rivers have largely been developed for agriculture.
The mainstem dams and other impoundments and grain fields
have created attractive habitat for waterfowl, with peak populations
of more than 330,000 ducks and geese recorded on the Umatilla
National Wildlife Refuge during fall migration. The scarcity
of wetland habitats has magnified the importance of those
that do exist. Wetlands created through irrigation of pasture
lands have made the Wanaket Wildlife Area, managed by the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, an important
area for many wetland-dependent species.
Updated
September 22, 2004
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