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Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken October 9, 2006.
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Vancouver Water Resources Education Center ...
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Vancouver, Washington's Water Resources Education Center is located at Columbia River Mile (RM) 109, upstream of Ryan Point and downstream of Winter Park. The condominium development of Tidewater Cove is just upstream. The Resource Center overlooks the Columbia River and approximately 50 acres of wetlands, and offers a variety of educational programs for schools, groups, walk-in visitors, teacher workshops and events. The Center opened in 1996 under jurisdiction of the City of Vancouver and was developed as part of a wastewater treatment plant upgrade by the City's water and sewer utility.
The Water Resources Education Center lies along Vancouver's Waterfront Renaissance Trail and has views of the Columbia River wetlands all year round. Each season presents something new.
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Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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Balcony, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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Wetlands in March ...
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Wetlands, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
View from the wetlands overlook.
Image taken March 12, 2006.
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Geese, Wetlands, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
View from the wetlands overlook.
Image taken March 12, 2006.
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Mallards, Wetlands, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
View from the wetlands overlook.
Image taken March 12, 2006.
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Wetlands in October ...
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Columbia River from Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken October 9, 2006.
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Staff Gage, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
Staff gage shows height of 1894 (top, left side of gage), 1948, and 1996 (bottom) Columbia River floods.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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Staff Gage, with 1894 high water and 1948 high water, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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Staff Gage showing 1894 high water, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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A warm May in the spring of 1948 resulted in rapid snowmelt in the Cascades and rising waters of the Columbia River. By May 25, 1948, both the Columbia and the Willamette Rivers were nearly at 23 feet, eight feet over flood stage. On May 30, 1948, at approximately 4:17 p.m., the railroad dike between Smith Lake and Vanport City gave way. Within moments a 10-foot-high wall of water rushed over lands north of the Columbia Slough and inundated the city of Vanport. Sixteen lives were lost and Vanport City was forever gone.
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The Water Resources Education Center has a staff gage near the wetlands overlook which shows the high water marks of the 1996 Columbia River flood.
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Staff Gage showing 1996 high water, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
The wetlands in the background are flooded by high water from the Columbia River.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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Staff Gage showing 1996 high water, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
A swollen Columbia River is in the background, with high water covering the wetlands in this area.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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New Years 2006 High Water ...
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Flooded wetlands, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
A swollen Columbia River can be seen in the background. View from the wetlands overlook.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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High Water, Columbia River, Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver, Washington.
A swollen Columbia River as seen from wetlands viewing area.
Image taken January 1, 2006.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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