Appendix A:
Descriptions of Columbia River Subbasins
Descriptions of Columbia River subbasins for which the Treaty Tribes have comanagement responsibility (per CTWS et al. 1988)
Lower Columbia River Mainstem (Bonneville to McNary)
The Lower Columbia River Mainstem is that section of the river from Bonneville Dam (RM 146.1) to McNary Dam (RM 292). This section of the river flows eastward and forms the border between Oregon and Washington. The principal tributaries in this section include the Wind, Little White Salmon, Big White Salmon, and Klickitat rivers in Washington State and the Hood, Deschutes, John Day, and Umatilla rivers and Fifteenmile Creek in Oregon. Minor tributaries include Rock, Eagle, Herman, Mosier, Viento, and Willow creeks.
Management
Nez Perce
Umatilla
Warm Springs
Yakama
Wind River Subbasin
The Wind River originates in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwestern Washington. The river flows southward through steep, narrow terrain and enters the Columbia River near Carson, Washington at RM 154.5. Because of the steep terrain, only about 1% of the land is urbanized. The major land uses in the subbasin are timber production and harvest. Principal tributaries include Panther, Trout, and Paradise creeks.
Management
Yakama
Little White Salmon River Subbasin
The Little White Salmon River originates in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest west of Monte Cristo Peak in southcentral Washington. The river flows south and enters the Columbia near Cooks, Washington at RM 162. Most of the subbasin is contained within the boundaries of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The river runs through approximately 8 miles of private land, with urban development located primarily in the unincorporated town of Willard.
Management
Yakama
Big White Salmon River Subbasin
The Big White Salmon River originates in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southcentral Washington along the southwest slope of Mt. Adams. The river flows south and enters the Columbia River at Underwood, Washington at RM 168.3. Major land uses in the subbasin include timber production, forest, range, and agriculture. Principal tributaries are Trout Lake and Buck and Rattlesnake creeks.
Management
Yakama
Hood River Subbasin
Hood River, located in northcentral Oregon, flows in a northeasterly direction and enters the Columbia River at RM 169. The river is bounded on the west by the Cascade Range, the south by the Sandy and White river drainages, and on the east by the Mosier, Mill, Threemile, and Fifteenmile creek drainages. Land in the subbasin is managed primarily for timber production and irrigated agriculture.
Management
Warm Springs
Klickitat River Subbasin
The Klickitat River originates along the east slope of the Cascade Mountains in southcentral Washington. The watershed is bounded on the west by Mt. Adams, the north by Goat Rocks and by the Simcoe Mountains on the east. The river flows generally southward and enters the Columbia near Lyle, Washington at RM 180.4. Forestry and agriculture are the major economic industries in the subbasin. Major land ownership includes the Yakama Indian Nation, private individuals, and the state. The principal tributaries include the Little Klickitat River and Big Muddy, Summit, and Outlet creeks. Minor tributaries include White Brush and Trout creeks.
Management
Yakama
Fifteenmile Creek Subbasin
The Fifteenmile Creek Drainage, located in northcentral Oregon, heads into the Mt. Hood National Forest just east of Mt. Hood. The creek flows northeast out of timbered higher elevations before it circles north through dryland wheat country southeast of The Dalles. It enters the Columbia River at RM 192. The Fifteenmile Creek drainage is bounded on the west by the Mosier, Mill, Threemile, and Hood River drainages, on the south by the White River dainage, and on the east by the Deschutes River drainage. The principal tributaries are Eightmile, Ramsey, and Fivemile creeks. The U.S.D.A. Forest Service manages 19% of the subbasin for timber production.
Management
Yakama
Deschutes River Subbasin
The Deschutes River subbasin in northcentral Oregon flows north through central Oregon and enters the Columbia River at RM 205. Major tributaries include White and Warm Springs rivers, and Shitike, Buck Hollow, Bakeover, and Trout creeks. Land ownership in the lower Deschutes River subbasin is primarily private (62%) and tribal (21%). The major land use in the subbasin is agriculture, grazing is widespread.
Management
Warm Springs
John Day River Subbasin
John Day River, in eastcentral Oregon, is the longest free-flowing river with wild anadromous salmon in the Columbia River Basin. The John Day includes 11 counties and is bounded by the Columbia River to the north, the Blue Mountains to the east, the Aldrich Mountains and Strawberry Range to the south, and the Ochoco Mountains to the west. The mainstem John Day River flows from the Strawberry Mountains to its mouth at RM 218 on the Columbia River. Major tributaries include the North Fork and South Fork. Over 60% of the subbasin is privately owned. Federal ownership amounts to approximately 37%, including lands managed by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service (30%), and U.S.D.A. Bureau of Land Management (7%).
Management
Umatilla
Warm Springs
Umatilla River Subbasin
The Umatilla River originates on the west slope of the Blue Mountains in the Umatilla National Forest. It flows northwest and enters the Columbia River at RM 289 near Irrigon, Oregon. Principal tributaries include the North Fork and South Fork, as well as Meacham, Birch, McKay, and Butter creeks. The major land ownership is private (51%), federal (37%), and tribal (11%). Forest lands in the subbasin are managed for timber harvest, grazing, and recreation. Much of the lower subbasin has been developed for irrigated agriculture.
Management
Umatilla
Mid-Columbia River Mainstem (McNary to Chief Joseph)
The mid-Columbia River mainstem is that section of the Columbia River from McNary Dam (RM 292) to Chief Joseph Dam (RM 545). This section of the river generally flows southward through eastern Washington until it turns westward in the vicinity of Pasco, Washington. Its principal tributaries include the Walla Walla, Yakima, Wenatchee, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan, and Snake rivers.
Management
Yakama
Umatilla
Walla Walla River Subbasin
The Walla Walla River originates in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon. It flows generally west and north and enters the Columbia River at RM 315 near Wallula, Washington. The main tributaries are the North Fork, South Fork, and Touchet rivers, and Couse, Birch, Mill, Pine, Dry, Yellowhawk, and Cottonwood creeks. The higher elevation forested lands are managed for timber harvest, livestock grazing, and recreation, whereas mid-elevation lands are managed for dryland farming and grazing. Most of the valley lands are managed for irrigated agriculture. Private land ownership dominates in the subbasin and is approximately 96% in Washington state.
Management
Umatilla
Yakima River Subbasin
The Yakima River originates in the Cascade Mountains at Lake Keechlus. The river flows southeast and enters the Columbia River at RM 335 near Richland, Washington. Major tributaries include the Naches, American, Bumping, Tieton, Little Naches, Cle Elum, and Teanaway rivers, in addition to Status, Toppenish, Rattlesnake, and Mile creeks. The major land use in the subbasin includes irrigated agriculture, timber harvest, grazing, and urbanization. Land ownership is approximately 32% private, 30% tribal, 28% federal, and 10% state.
Management
Yakama
Wenatchee River Subbasin
The Wenatchee River Watershed drains a portion of the east Cascade Mountains in northcentral Washington into Chelan County and enters the Columbia River at RM 486.4. The drainage originates in high mountainous regions of the Cascade Crest, with numerous tributaries draining subalpine regions within the Alpine Lakes and Glacier Peak Wilderness areas. The Little Wenatchee and White rivers flow into Lake Wenatchee, the source of the Wenatchee River. From the lake outlet, the river descends rapidly through Tumwater Canyon and drops into a lower gradient section in the region of Leavenworth, where Icicle Creek joins the mainstem. Other tributaries include Peshastin Creek, Chiwawa River, and Nason Creek. Much of the basin is managed for timber production. Land ownership is primarily federal (77%) and private (22%).
Management
Yakama
Entiat River Subbasin
The Entiat River Subbasin is located in northcentral Washington in Chelan County. The Entiat River flows southeast and enters the Columbia River at RM 483.7. The system has two major tributaries: the North Fork Entiat and Mad River. The subbasin is managed mainly for timber production. Land ownership is primarily federal (84%) and private (12%).
Management
Yakama
Methow River Subbasin
The Methow River is located in northcentral Washington with its source on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. The river flows southeast and enters the Columbia River at RM 524, near the town of Pateros, Washington. The principal land use in the subbasin is forest, seconded by livestock grazing. The U.S.D.A. Forest Service owns most (94%) of the land in the subbasin.
Management
Yakama
Okanogan River Subbasin
The Okanogan River enters the Columbia between Wells and Chief Joseph dams. This subbasin straddles British Columbia and Washington. It begins near Armstrong, British Columbia, and flows south through a chain of lakes. The first and largest of these is Lake Okanogan, followed by lakes Skaha, Vaseaux, and Osoyoos. The United States-Canada border divides Lake Osoyoos into two nearly equal parts. From there the river flows about 80 miles south and enters the Columbia River near Brewster at RM 533. The Similkameen River is the main tributary. Forest and rangeland dominate the subbasin. The major landowners include the Colville Indian Tribe and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service.
Management
Yakama
Lower Snake River Mainstem (Columbia confluence to Hells Canyon Dam)
This section of the river generally flows northwest and forms the border of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington until it turns westward at Lewiston, Idaho, and enters the Columbia at RM 324.2. The Lower Snake River Mainstem is that portion of the river from its junction at the Columbia to Hells Canyon Dam at RM 247. The Snake River Subbasin is the largest drainage system entering the Columbia River. Major land use for this subbasin includes wilderness and agriculture. The principal tributaries in this section of the river are the Tucannon, Clearwater, Grande Ronde, Salmon, and Imnaha rivers.
Management
Nez Perce
Umatilla
Yakama
Tucannon River Subbasin
The Tucannon River originates in the Blue Mountains of the Umatilla National Forest and flows north through Washington State; it enters the Snake near Starbuck at RM 62. The river’s principal tributary is Pataha Creek. Land use is dominated by cropland (36.9%, primarily for dryland winter wheat), rangeland (35.1%), and forestry (27%).
Management
Umatilla
Nez Perce
Clearwater River Subbasin
The Clearwater River Basin is located in northcentral Idaho. The subbasin extends from the Washington and Idaho border in the west to the eastern headwaters along the west slope of the Bitterroot Mountains. The river generally flows westward from the headwaters and enters the Snake at Lewiston, Idaho, RM 139. The main tributaries include the Lochsa, Selway, South Fork, and Lapwai creeks. Land ownership is mainly federal (61.2%) and private sector (32.3%). Major land use in the subbasin includes forestry-related activities, agriculture, grazing, and mining.
Management
Nez Perce
Grande Ronde River Subbasin
The Grande Ronde River originates in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. The watershed is bounded by the Blue Mountains to the west and northwest, and the Wallowa Mountains to the southeast. Its principal tributaries are the Wenaha, Wallowa, and Minsam rivers, and Catherine and Lookingglass creeks. Smaller trbutaries include the Bear, Hurricane, Sheep, and Indian creeks. The U.S.D.A. Forest Service is the major landowner (45%) in the subbasin and forestry, range, and cropland are the major land uses.
Management
Umatilla
Nez Perce
Salmon River Subbasin
The Salmon River originates in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho, and, after flowing west through the River of No Return Wilderness, enters the Snake River in the Hells Canyon reach at RM 188. The Salmon River subbasin is the largest in the Columbia River system, excluding the Snake. Major tribuatries include the East Fork, Pahsimeroi, Lemhi, North Fork, and Little Salmon rivers. Additional tributaries include Balley, Yankee Fork, Panther, Chamberlin, Slate, and Allison creeks. The major land owner in the subbasin is the U.S.D.A. Forest Service (90.3%). Major land use includes forestry, recreation, wilderness, agriculture, and grazing.
Management
Nez Perce
Shoshone-Bannock
Imnaha River Subbasin
The Imnaha River originates in the Wallowa/Whitman National Forest in northeast Oregon. From the junction of the North and South forks, the river flows north and enters the Snake River in the Hells Canyon reach at RM 191.7. Big Creek is the principal tributary. Land ownership is mainly federal (71.5%) and private (28.5%). Forestry-related uses, including recreation and wilderness, doninate in the subbasin, and the major land use on private land is grazing.
Management
Nez Perce
Umatilla