
Columbia River Basin
The Columbia River, fourth-largest by volume in North America (annual average of 192 million acre-feet at the mouth) begins at Columbia Lake in the Rocky Mountain Trench of southeastern British Columbia at about 2,656 feet above sea level. The river flows north for some 200 miles and then turns south and flows for about 270 miles before crossing the border into Washington 749 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.
For its first 150 miles in the United States, the Columbia forms the reservoir behind Grand Coulee Dam. The river then bends west, south, and east through central Washington, turns south and then west, and forms the border between Oregon and Washington to the Pacific Ocean. The mouth of the river is about 10 miles west of Astoria, Oregon. The total length of the river is about 1,243 miles. The drainage basin covers 259,000 square miles, and drains portions of seven states and British Columbia, and covers three degrees of latitude and nine degrees of longitude.
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The Columbia mainstem has many large and small tributaries, including the Snake (1,078 miles), Kootenay (485 miles), Deschutes (252 miles), Yakima (214 miles), and Willamette (187 miles).
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From its headwaters to its mouth, the river drops steadily at a rate of about two feet per mile, and most of its course is through rock-walled canyons, emptying an annual average of 192 million acre-feet into the Pacific; much of its volume originates in its middle and upper reaches. The combination of high volume and stable canyons made the Columbia an ideal hydropower river. Today there are 14 dams on the mainstem Columbia, beginning with Bonneville at river mile 146 and ending with Mica at river mile 1,018. In addition, there are more than 450 dams throughout the basin. Dams on the Columbia and its major tributaries produce half of the electricity consumed in the Pacific Northwest.
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Map of HUC 6 watershed sub-basins in the Columbia River Basin that were used for this analysis. Click on the polygons to obtain information about listed species by taxa in each HUC 6 watershed (as of 23 January 2025). Or click here to open the map online.
The following is a summary of the listed species and critical habitats found in the Columbia River Basin. Click on the blocks below to obtain more detailed information about the listed species and critical habitats in each HUC 6 as of 23 January 2025.
Species for which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has jurisdiction are listed in yellow.
Conifers and Cyads

Photo credit: Jen Hooke, NPS​
1. Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) (T)
Flowering Plants

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Howell's Spectacular Thelypody (Thelypodium howellii spp. spectabliis) (T)
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Kincaid's Lupine (Lupinus sulphureus kincaidii) (T) (CH)
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Macfarlane's Four-o'clock (Mirabilis macfarlanei) (T)
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Showy Stickseed (Hackelia venusta) (E)
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Slickspot Peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) (T) (CH)
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Spalding's Catchfly (Silene spaldingii) (T) (ECOS) (proposed CH)
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Umtanum Desert Buckwheat (Eriogonum codium) (T) (CH)
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Ute Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) (T)
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Wenatchee Mountains Checkermallow (Sidalcea oregana var. calva) (E) (CH)
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White Bluffs Bladderpod (Physaria douglasii spp. tuplashensis) (T) (CH)
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Willamette Daisy (Erigeron decumbens) (E) (CH)
Reptiles

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Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) (E) (CH)
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Northwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) (Proposed T)
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Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) (T)
Insects

Photo credit: Thomas Dunkerton Neal-Smith NWR, Thomas Dunkerton/USFWS
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Fender's Blue Butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) (T) (CH)
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Franklin's Bumble Bee (Bombus franklini) (E)
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Meltwater Lednian Stonefly (Lednia tumana) (T)
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Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) (C)
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Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) (T)
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Taylor's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) (E)
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Western Glacier Stonefly (Zapada glacier) (T)
Birds

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Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis) (E)
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Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) (T) (CH)
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Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) (T) (CH)
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Rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) (T) (CH)
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Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) (E)
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Streaked Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata) (T) (CH)
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Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) (T) (CH)
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo (T) (CH)
Fishes

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Bonytail (Gila elegans) (E) (CH)
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Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) (T), (EXPN) (CH)
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Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) (E) (CH)
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Columbia River Chum Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus keta) (Protected)
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Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) (PSAT)
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Eulachon Southern DPS (Thaleichthys pacificus) (T) (CH)
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Green Sturgeon Southern DPS (Acipenser medirostris) (T) (CH)
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Humpback Chub (Gila cypha) (T) (CH)
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Kendall Warm Springs Dace (Rhinichthys osculus thermalis) (E)
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Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) (T)
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Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus) (E) (CH)
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Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (T) (CH)
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Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) (T) (CH)
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Lower Columbia River Steelhead DPS (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (T) (CH)
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Middle Columbia River Steelhead DSP (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (T) (CH)
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​Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) (E) (CH)
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Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) (E) (CH)
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Snake River Fall-run Chinook Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (T) (CH)
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Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (T) (CH)
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Snake River Sockeye ESU (Oncorhynchus nerka) (E) (CH)
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Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (T) (CH)
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Upper Columbia River Spring-run Chinook Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (E) (CH)
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Upper Columbia River Steelhead DPS (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (T) (CH)
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Upper Willamette River Chinook Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (T) (CH)
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Upper Willamette River Steelhead DPS (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (T) (CH)
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White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) (E) (CH)
Snails

​Photo credit: Snake River Physa Snail, USFWS
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Banbury Springs Limpet (Idaholanx fresti) (E)
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Bliss Rapids Snail (Taylorconcha serpenticola) (T)
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Bruneau Hot Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis bruneauensis) (E)
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Snake River Physa Snail (Physella natricina) (E)
Mammals

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Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) (T) (CH)
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Columbian White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virgianus leucurus) (T)
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Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) (E)
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Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) (T) (proposed CH - but never finalized - no overlap with any project locations)
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North American Wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) (T)
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Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus brunneus) (T)
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Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) (T)
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Southern Mountain Caribou DPS (Rangifer tarandus spp. caribou) (E) (CH)
CRB Entities
The 100th Meridian Initiative is a cooperative effort between state, provincial, and federal agencies to: 1) prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species (ANS) into the western United States and 2) monitor and control zebra mussels and other ANS if detected in these areas.
The 100th Meridian Initiative has proven highly effective in enhancing early detection capacities and reducing the risk of introductions. However, if prevention efforts fail, agencies must be prepared to respond rapidly and effectively to reduce impacts. Effective interagency response depends on effective contingency planning. The Columbia River Basin (CRB) Team has been established as part of the 100th Meridian Initiative to address the special needs of the CRB. The CRB Team includes state, federal, Tribal, and university ANS managers and researchers.
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The specific agencies and entities required to respond to the discovery of dreissenids depends on where the infestation is discovered. However, regardless of location, a response depends upon the cooperation of a broad variety of public and private sector organizations, including, but not limited to the following:

Note: This document and its contents are being updated in 2024. Effects on listed species and critical habitats now occur at the HUC 6 level and can be found by HUC 6 basin on this page.
United states and canadian federal agencies
Bonneville Power Administration
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US Environmental Protection Agency
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TRIBES
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Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation
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Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
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Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
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Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
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Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
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Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
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Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation
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Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation
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Tribal Associations
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Canadian Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commission
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Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
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STATE and provincial AGENCIES
Idaho Department of Agriculture
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Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
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Idaho Department of Fish and Game
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Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
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Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Washington Department of Ecology
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Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
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State aquatic/general invasive species committees and councils
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Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta
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OTHERS
100th Meridian Initiative Columbia River Basin Team
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City and County governments
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Mid-Columbia River Public Utility Districts
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Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
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Port authorities
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Lead USFWS Offices in the Columbia River Basin
Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office
1387 South Vinnell Way, Suite 368
Boise, ID 83709-1657
(208) 378-5243
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Montana Ecological Services Field Office
585 Shephard Way, Suite 1
Helena, MT 59601-6287
(406) 449-5225
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Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office
2600 Southeast 98th Avenue, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97266-1398
(503) 231-6179
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Washington Fish and Wildlife Office
1009 College Street, Suite 215
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 753-9440
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​Wyoming Ecological Services Field Office
334 Parsley Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82007-4178
(307) 772-2374
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Lead NMFS Offices in the Columbia River Basin
Interior Columbia Basin Office (ICBO)
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd, Suite 1100
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 230-5400
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Ellensburg, Washington
304 South Water, #201
Ellensburg WA 98926
(509) 240-9203
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Moscow, Idaho
new address to come
Moscow ID 83843-7019
(503) 230-5400
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Boise, Idaho
800 E. Park Blvd, Plaza IV, Suite 220
Boise ID 83712-7768
(208) 378-5696
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Salmon, Idaho
1206 South Challis Street
Salmon ID 83467
(208) 756-5100
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​Oregon and Washington Coastal Office
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd, Suite 1100
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 230-5400
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Seattle, Washington
7600 Sand Point Way Northeast
Seattle WA 98115
(503) 230-5400
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Lacey, Washington
1009 College St. SE
Suite 210
Lacey WA 98503
(503) 230-5400
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Roseburg, Oregon
777 NW Garden Valley Blvd
Roseburg OR 97471
(503) 862-3095

The Interior Basin Office is located in Portland, Oregon. There are satellite teams in Ellensburg, Washington; La Grande, Oregon; and Moscow, Boise, and Salmon, Idaho.
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The Oregon and Washington Coastal Office is located in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, with satellite teams in Lacey, Washington and Roseburg, Oregon.
State Agency Leads in the Columbia River Basin
Washington
Justin Bush
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
justin.bush@dfw.wa.gov, (564) 669-9486
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Oregon
Keith DeHart
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Keith.B.DEHART@odfw.oregon.gov, (541) 962-5998
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Idaho
Nicholas Zurfluh
Idaho State Department of Agriculture
Nicholas.Zurfluh@isda.idaho.gov, (208) 334-2840
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Montana
Tom Woolf
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
thomas.woolf@mt.gov, (406) 444-1230