White Salmon Access Restored at Northwestern Park (WA)

PacifiCorp has opened the new take-out facility at Northwestern Park. Construction was completed late last month and for the first time since Condit Dam was breached in October 2011, a public access is once again available downstream of Husum Falls. Outfitters are now able to continue trips down to Northwestern Park and beginner paddlers once again have access to a regionally-important instructional reach. The trip on this lower reach is a fascinating journey that takes you down through the former sediments of the reservoir. As a bonus, a fun wave has emerged just upstream of the bridge.

 

The access point is temporary as the river continues to define a new channel through the reservoir sediments, but it is anticipated to be the primary access point through the summer paddling season. PacifiCorp owns the park and requests that paddlers respect construction fencing and be aware of construction traffic in and around the park. PacifiCorp has worked hard to make access available while restoration work is still underway and we all need to respect their guidelines for use of the park so they can continue to get the project finished.

 

It is important that paddlers do not continue on downstream past this point as dam removal is still underway and no public access is available before the river disappears into a tunnel at the dam. If the dam removal remains on schedule we are optimistic that the river will be open to paddlers all the way to the Columbia River by Labor Day of this year. Stay tuned for more details.