Lewis and Clark National Historical Park - Natural Features

Prior to the early 1800s the Fort Clatsop site was predominantly old growth Sitka spruce forest. Logging removed all of the site’s old growth between 1850 and 1900. By 1950 some forest cover had been restored. Most of the originally forested areas had been replanted by 1988, primarily to western hemlock and Douglas fir. Today, approximately 50 acres of the Fort Clatsop unit is coniferous forest habitat, composed of approximately 20 acres of mature trees and 30 acres of younger forests. The return of a mature or old-growth Sitka spruce/western hemlock forest similar to the one encountered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805-06 is a high priority for the park and an objective listed in the General Management Plan.

Many acres of the park are freshwater or estuarine wetlands. Ten types of wetlands occur within the Fort Clatsop unit, as identified by the National Wetland Inventory. Seven of these are palustrine: PEM/SSR, PFO/SSR, PSS/EMR, PEMA, PSSC, PEMC and PSSR. Two are estuarine: E2EMN and E1UBL, and one is riverine: R1UBV.

Water within and surrounding the Fort Clatsop and Netul Landing units has been greatly diverted and altered. The Lewis and Clark River has been extensively diked for flood control, reducing or eliminating fertile floodplains. Former floodplains are now utilized for agriculture and development. Logs, rootwads and other woody debris were historically removed from the river to improve its navigability, increasing its flow rate and decreasing wildlife habitat quality. Many activities within the Lewis and Clark River drainage may impact the park"s water quality and wetlands. These activities include pesticide and fertilizer use, runoff from agricultural and logging operations, potential contamination due to tidal influences (such as oil spills), illegal dumping of household and industrial rubbish and toxic materials, erosion from forest roads and logging operations, and encroaching development.