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Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge · Clark County · 1987
A 1987 refuge just east of Washougal was created to offset lowland habitat lost to Bonneville Dam, then reopened 965 acres of floodplain.
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits just east of Washougal, at the western gateway to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. FWS established it in 1987 to offset lowland habitat lost to construction at Bonneville Dam, then added smaller parcels over time.
Those lands were meant to reduce the impact of that loss and provide more habitat for migrating and resident wildlife. The refuge now offers a trail system through restored habitat.
The Steigerwald Reconnection Project is a collaborative effort to reconfigure the Columbia River levee system to reduce flood risk to the neighboring community, reconnect 965 acres of Columbia River floodplain, and enhance recreation. The source below is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge page.
- Wildlife & Ecology
Sources (1)
government · Tier S
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceSteigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Last reviewed: September 21, 2026
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