White Salmon River

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″N 121°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 near Underwood, Skamania County
• coordinates	45°43′43″N 121°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
National Wild and Scenic River
Type	Wild, Scenic
Designated	November 17, 1986

The White Salmon River is a 44-mile (71 km) tributary of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington.^[3] Originating on the slopes of Mount Adams, it flows into the Columbia Gorge near the community of Underwood. Parts of the river have been designated Wild 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 designated Wild and Scenic between Gilmer Creek and Buck Creek. In 2005, the upper river between the headwaters and the boundary of the Gifford 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 for whitewater boating nearly year-round. A popular spot to launch a raft or kayak is the public put-in at the unincorporated 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, the Condit Dam on the White Salmon River was intentionally breached as part of the dam's decommissioning by PacifiCorp. The breach allowed the river to flow unimpeded for the first time in nearly a century.^[7]

• List of Washington rivers
• List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers
• Condit Hydroelectric Project
• Tributaries of the Columbia River
• Trout Lake Mudflow

• Dam-breaching video - YouTube
• Friends of the White Salmon
• Photo of the river below the dam
• USGS map of the area
• The White Salmon River Runs Free: Breaching the Condit Dam Documentary produced by Oregon Field Guide