Columbia River Wetlands

The Columbia Valley Wetlands covers an area from Canal Flats to Donald and is the longest continuous wetlands remaining on the continent. It covers 26,000 hectares (64,000 acres) and supports over 260 resident and migratory bird species. The Columbia flood plain is very flat and ranges from 1-2 km in width.

Wetlands are places where water accumulates for a period long enough so that waterlogged, oxygen-depleted soils develop and water loving vegetation grows.

The wetlands play a vital ecological role by providing habitat for a rich variety of plants and animals and they remove as much as 90% of sediment and toxins from water. The wetlands also help prevent global warming by slowing the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

More info at www.wildsight.ca/columbiawetlands