| White Salmon River | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location of the mouth of the White Salmon River in Washington | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Klickitat,Skamania |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Mount Adams Wilderness |
| • location | Gifford Pinchot National Forest,Klickitat County,Cascade Range |
| • coordinates | 46°11′10″N121°35′05″W / 46.18611°N 121.58472°W /46.18611; -121.58472[1] |
| • elevation | 5,381 ft (1,640 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Columbia River |
• location | Columbia River Gorge nearUnderwood,Skamania County |
• coordinates | 45°43′43″N121°31′16″W / 45.72861°N 121.52111°W /45.72861; -121.52111[1] |
• elevation | 79 ft (24 m)[1] |
| Length | 44.3 mi (71.3 km)[3] |
| Basin size | 400 sq mi (1,000 km2)[4] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Underwood, Washington |
| • average | 1,075 cuft/s[5] |
| • minimum | 482 cuft/s |
| • maximum | 2,612 cuft/s |
| Type | Wild, Scenic |
| Designated | November 17, 1986 |
TheWhite Salmon River is a 44-mile (71 km) tributary of theColumbia River in the U.S. state ofWashington.[3] Originating on the slopes ofMount Adams, it flows into theColumbia Gorge near the community ofUnderwood. Parts of the river have been designatedWild and Scenic. The principal tributaries of the White Salmon River include Trout Lake and Buck, Mill, Dry, Gilmer, and Rattlesnake Creeks.[6]
In 1986, the lower White Salmon River was designatedWild and Scenic betweenGilmer Creek and Buck Creek. In 2005, the upper river between the headwaters and the boundary of theGifford Pinchot National Forest was added to the designation. The two reaches, which are not contiguous, total 27.7 miles (44.6 km), of which 6.7 miles (10.8 km) are "wild" and 22.3 miles (35.9 km) are "scenic."[4] On the upper stretches of the White Salmon River near the Trout Lake Farming Community there are a few irrigation dams on the White Salmon River. These irrigation dams may be full/partial barriers to resident trout populations.
The White Salmon River is used forwhitewater boating nearly year-round. A popular spot to launch a raft or kayak is the public put-in at theunincorporated community of BZ Corner. The day-use area at the put-in includes parking, restrooms, and toilets. Full day whitewater tours will also take visitors rafting through the former Condit Dam/Northwestern Lake portion of the White Salmon River and to the Columbia River confluence. Guided whitewater trips can be arranged with commercial outfitters with special-use permits for the White Salmon.[4]
On October 26, 2011, theCondit Dam on the White Salmon River was intentionally breached as part of the dam's decommissioning byPacifiCorp. The breach allowed the river to flow unimpeded for the first time in nearly a century.[7]
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