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Land Use
More than 50% of the U.S. portion of the Columbia River Basin is in federal ownership
(most of which occurs in high desert and mountain areas). Approximately 39% is in
private land ownership (most of which occurs in river valleys and plateaus). The
remaining 11% is divided among the tribes, state, and local governments (Hinck, Schmitt
et al. 2004). See Table 39 for a summary of land uses and population densities in several
subbasins within the Columbia River watershed (data from (Stanford, Hauer et al. 2005).
Table 39. Land use and population density in select tributaries of the Columbia River
(Stanford, Hauer et al. 2005).
Watershed
Agriculture
Land Use Categories (Percent)
Forest Urban Other
Snake/Salmon rivers 30 10-15 1
54
230
scrub/rangeland/barren
Density
(people/mi 2 )
Yakima River 16 36 1 47 shrub 80
Willamette River 19 68 5 -- 171
The interior Columbia Basin has been altered substantially by humans causing dramatic
changes and declines in native fish populations. In general, the basin supports a variety
of mixed uses. Predominant human uses include logging, agriculture, ranching,
hydroelectric power generation, mining, fishing, a variety of recreational activities, and
urban uses. The decline of salmon runs in the Columbia River is attributed to loss of
habitat, blocked migratory corridors, altered river flows, pollution, overharvest, and
competition from hatchery fish. In the Yakima River, 72 stream and river segments are
listed as impaired by the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) and 83% exceed
temperature standards. In the Willamette River, riparian vegetation was greatly reduced
by land conversion. By 1990, only 37% of the riparian area within 120 m was forested,
30% was agricultural fields, and 16% was urban or suburban lands. In the Yakima River,
non-native grasses and other plants are commonly found along the lower reaches of the
river (Stanford, Hauer et al. 2005).
Agriculture and Ranching
Agriculture, ranching, and related services in the Pacific Northwest employ more than
nine times the national average [19% of the households within the basin (NRC 2004)].
39