Pierce

Washington

Established: 1983

329.38 acres

Official Site: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pierce

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierce_National_Wildlife_Refuge

USFWS

Located 36 miles east of Vancouver, just past Beacon Rock State Park, the refuge is a rare undisturbed sanctuary for wildlife in the highly visited Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. The Refuge offers larger species like Roosevelt Elk and black bear, and threatened and endangered species such as chum salmon and western pond turtles a place to thrive and recover.

Pierce NWR was established in 1983 to provide habitat for waterfowl, particularly Canada geese. The habitats of the Refuge include wetlands, grasslands, forests and streams. Staff and partners strive to study, restore and monitor these habitats and species to ensure their long term success.

In keeping with this research and monitoring emphasis, human disturbance is kept to a minimum. There is no visitor access at this refuge.

Wikipedia

The Pierce National Wildlife Refuge is in southwest Washington within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It encompasses wetlands and uplands along the north shore of the Columbia River west of the town of North Bonneville. Refuge habitats include wetlands, Columbia River riparian corridor blocks, transitional woodlands from willows to cottonwood/ash to white oak to Douglas fir, improved pastures with some native grasses, and numerous creeks, seeps, and springs.

Hardy Creek, which bisects the refuge from east to west, supports one of the last remaining runs of chum salmon on the Columbia River. The creek also supports small remnant runs of coho salmon, steelhead, and Chinook salmon as well as a variety of native species of freshwater fish. The refuge headquarters also serves as the main office for Steigerwald Lake and Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuges. Visitor opportunities are limited to arranged group tours and viewing from the summit of Beacon Rock and the Hamilton Mountain Trail (both located in Beacon Rock State Park).

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