Columbia Watershed
LaBella, McCauley, LaBruno, Velardi
What Is a Watershed?
Facts About the Columbia River
largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
The river starts in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It then flows to the state of Washington before going into Oregon. It then empties into the Pacific Ocean.
The river is 1,243 miles long.
- Fourth largest river in the United States
River
Map
The Columbia watershed expands from the British Columbia and Alberta in Canada to Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Utah.
Wildlife
Impact of the Columbia Watershed.
Riparian Zones: Wet soil next to a source of water, abundant in plant life
Elk, deer, bear, sheep, and mountain lions are examples of animals that feed in these relatively lush riparian zones
Riverside Vegetation is very important for the ecosystem of a Watershed.
The watershed contains many tributaries, which are important for fish and plants especially.
Wetlands are in the Columbia Watershed.
The Watershed contains an estuary, which is where freshwater meets saltwater, which caters to very specific wildlife.